There are strong indications that President Bola Tinubu has stepped into the deepening political crisis in Rivers State involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The intervention comes amid a renewed impeachment move against the governor by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike.
Highly placed sources revealed that the President has summoned Wike for a meeting to address the Rivers crisis. The meeting is expected to take place outside Nigeria, as Tinubu is currently on an official trip abroad.
According to a source close to the President, Wike has been invited for talks in Dubai, barring any last-minute changes. The source said the President would not allow the political situation in Rivers State to deteriorate further, especially given its implications for national stability and the economy.
TrackNews Correspondents also gathered that Governor Fubara left Nigeria on Thursday aboard a private jet. He is believed to be heading to France, where he plans to meet with President Tinubu to brief him personally on the crisis and the fresh impeachment plot against him.
The source disclosed that Tinubu was fully aware of the alleged moves to impeach Fubara and had decided to intervene directly. He said the President viewed Wike’s actions as dangerous and capable of destabilising the state and the wider Niger Delta region.
“The President sees the danger in what Wike is doing. He has summoned him for a meeting abroad. Wike cannot impeach Fubara; the President will call him to order,” the source said.
The source described the situation as an affront to presidential authority and warned that continued pressure on Fubara, the first Ijaw governor of Rivers State, could provoke unrest among Ijaw youths. He noted that such unrest could affect oil production and harm the national economy.
He recalled that one of the reasons a state of emergency was declared in Rivers State in March last year was the fear of a breakdown of law and order. According to him, repeating such a scenario would be against national interest and would not be tolerated by the President.
A senior presidential aide, however, said he was not aware of any scheduled meeting between Tinubu and Wike. He confirmed that the President was currently in France and would later travel to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
The aide noted that Wike had no official business in the UAE and said only an appointment with the President would justify such a trip. He added that only Wike or his aides could confirm whether a meeting had been fixed.
The aide also stated that Tinubu had earlier approved Fubara’s decision to align with the All Progressives Congress and had affirmed that governors are leaders of the party in their respective states.
At the APC national secretariat, a senior administrative official said party leaders were unhappy with Wike’s conduct toward Fubara. He disclosed that discussions were ongoing on how APC leaders would meet with the President upon his return to Nigeria.
The official said party leaders believed Wike should respect the President and the party, stressing that Fubara, as an APC governor, deserved protection. He added that even if Fubara was not seeking a second term, he should be allowed to complete his tenure.
Efforts to reach Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, were unsuccessful. However, an ally of the minister said Wike would return to Abuja on Sunday but declined to speak on his subsequent itinerary.
The ally dismissed claims that Wike was behind the impeachment plot, insisting that Rivers lawmakers were acting independently. She also rejected allegations that Wike was disrespecting the President, describing such claims as mischievous.
The developments come as the Rivers State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. During plenary on Thursday, the Majority Leader read allegations of gross misconduct against the governor, including extra-budgetary spending and refusal to comply with Supreme Court rulings.
Odu was accused of unconstitutional spending and obstructing the Assembly’s duties. The Speaker said the notice would be served on the governor within seven days.
Meanwhile, senior APC officials and stakeholders have urged Tinubu to rein in Wike, warning that his actions could portray the President as weak and worsen insecurity. They argued that the crisis in Rivers State was an unnecessary distraction amid Nigeria’s broader security and economic challenges.
The political standoff has continued despite earlier mediation by Tinubu, which followed the declaration of emergency rule in the state. Although a truce was reached at the time, tensions resurfaced shortly after the emergency period ended, with both men trading accusations.
The Rivers crisis remains unresolved, with Tinubu’s latest intervention now seen as a crucial test of his authority and ability to restore stability in one of Nigeria’s most politically sensitive states.
