In a surprising turn of events on October 31, 2023, the embattled Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and his estranged political mentor, the incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyison Wike, found themselves under the same roof at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The occasion that brought these political heavyweights together was the National Police Council meeting, currently presided over by President Bola Tinubu. This high-profile gathering saw the attendance of several governors from various states, and the possibility of reconciliation between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, was a subject of keen interest.
Among the state governors spotted at the event were Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, ABDULLAHI Abba of Kano, and Bassey Ottu of Cross River.
Before the closed-door meeting commenced, there were moments of informal interaction among the attendees. Notably, Wike and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, engaged in a brief aside discussion, while others exchanged pleasantries.
In an unexpected and momentous development, Wike took the initiative to extend his hand in a gesture of goodwill towards Governor Fubara, breaking the ice between the two estranged figures. This friendly exchange marked the first face-to-face meeting between the Rivers State Governor, who was attired in a white Kaftan, and his estranged political mentor, Wike, who was similarly seen in a white Kaftan.
This landmark meeting comes on the heels of the ongoing crisis that had caused a tumultuous uproar in Rivers State. The tension escalated to the point where 24 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly initiated proceedings to impeach Governor Fubara. This, in turn, led to a wave of protests by the governor’s supporters at the state assembly complex on Monday, as they vehemently opposed the impeachment plot.
