The political crisis rocking Rivers State shows no sign of ending as efforts to reconcile Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, have stalled, two weeks after a peace committee was proposed by the National Assembly.
Recall that following heightened tension in the state, President Bola Tinubu in March declared a state of emergency, leading to the six-month suspension of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all state legislators. Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas (rtd) was immediately appointed as Sole Administrator.
Although the National Assembly quickly approved the President’s request, both chambers suggested the formation of a committee to mediate between the warring factions before the suspension period lapses. However, no significant action has been taken toward initiating the peace process.
According to sources in Port Harcourt, the capital city of the state, reconciliation is being hampered by the role some prominent Ijaw and Rivers leaders played during the crisis.
“Those that should have led us out of the woods this time around took sides in the crisis. They lack the credibility to call the two parties to a roundtable,” an insider said.
The source noted that many Ijaw leaders openly supported Governor Fubara while casting aside Wike, further deepening the divide. He also criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan and other groups for allegedly abandoning their neutral roles.
“Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who should have led the peace talks at this time, was pushed to side with Governor Fubara in the crisis,” he said. “The Ijaw National Congress (INC), led by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, disappointed the Ijaw through its obvious partiality in the matter. Prof. Okaba did not help matters at all.”
He added, “You remember that all the elders in Rivers are already divided into Wike’s or Fubara’s elders. These are people that should have risen to the occasion at this point, but they no longer command the respect that can foster genuine reconciliation. As it stands, there is nothing visible being done to kick-start any reconciliation.”
President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Jonathan Lokpobiri, also expressed disappointment over the handling of the crisis by some Ijaw leaders.
“I can, with all sense of responsibility and conviction, state that if we had applied wisdom in the management of this crisis in Rivers, we would not be where we are today,” Lokpobiri said. “Instead of using wisdom in matters we can nip in the bud, we chose to threaten war that we were not prepared for.”
He continued, “People speak carelessly in an attempt to put an ethnic group into a war that is avoidable. For those who threatened fire and brimstone, the war came but I didn’t hear their voices anymore. We must be wise in prosecuting the struggles of the Niger Delta.”
While reaffirming support for Fubara to complete his term, Lokpobiri stressed that emotional reactions have no place in critical political disputes. “Sometimes wisdom is stronger than the arms we think we have gathered,” he said. “If we had solved this problem internally as we advised earlier, we wouldn’t get to this embarrassing moment of a state of emergency.”
On his part, Kennedy Tonjo-West, President of the Movement for Izon Ethnic Nationality Development (MOSIEND), said his group had maintained neutrality throughout the crisis and is now ready to help initiate peace efforts.
“I am already undertaking some consultations so that the process of reconciliation can start on time. We want Rivers to return to a process of reconciliation without any delay,” he said.
Wike and Fubara have remained at odds since the 2023 general elections, despite Wike’s earlier support for the governor.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara has since returned to his private residence in Port Harcourt, while most suspended lawmakers, many of them loyalists of Wike, are reportedly abroad on holiday.