Wike: Former Rivers Commissioner Reacts To Peace Deal: Fubara Was Called To Surrender, Not To Reconcile
Leloonu Nwibubasa, the former Rivers State Commissioner for Employment, Generation, and Economic Empowerment, has asserted that Sim Fubara, the suspended governor of Rivers State, was invited to Abuja to submit rather than engage in peace negotiations. Recall that on Thursday evening, President Bola Tinubu mediated a reconciliation between Fubara and Wike, his political godfather.
Tinubu hosted Wike, Fubara, and Martin Amaewhule, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, together with a few other MPs, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja for the private meeting.
According to Presidency sources familiar with the agreement, Fubara consented to serve out his current term while vowing not to run for office again in 2027. Additionally, Fubara consented to let Wike designate the chairpersons of each of the state’s 23 local government units.
“It was one of the issues raised,” the insider stated. It was, in reality, the primary problem. After that, he consented to leave the stage and end his term amicably.
Restoring peace to Rivers State is the aim. However, I believe Fubara was given the short end of the stick. In an interview with The Punch, Nwibubasa maintained that there was no reconciliation because the governor did not show up for the meeting with his supporters, despite the fact that several political stakeholders applauded the move.
He called it a nasty development, adding out that the governor had been subdued by Tinubu and Wike. “What I see is not reconciliation,” he said. I perceive a capitulation.
Parties bring their followers along for talks and compromises during a reconciliation. Without the assistance of his own allies, including his deputy, secretary to the state government, chief of staff, and factional speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, among others, Governor Fubara walked alone to the presidency.
However, you claim that Wike went for reconciliation with all of his elders and supporters from the House of Assembly. No, Governor Sim surrendered, as I believe he was called to do.
“The content of that visit to Mr. President is a tale in and of itself, and it demonstrates the lengths to which these vile and polarising Abuja politicians have gone in order to intimidate the governor into submitting.” Nwibubasa described the state’s implications as a return to the trenches.
“It is evident to the Rivers people that the political, economic, and leadership structures of Rivers State have reverted to their previous state of affairs,” he continued.
