Tinubu Meets Fubara Amid Rivers Political Tensions

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Monday in a private meeting at the State House in Abuja. The discussion, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, was also attended by Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru. The meeting took place amidst rising political tensions in Rivers State and uncertainty surrounding Fubara’s position within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Fubara arrived at the Presidential Villa at 5:01 pm and was received by the Presidential Protocol Liaison Officer. The meeting, which began shortly after, was held behind closed doors, with no official statement released on the agenda or outcomes. Similarly, Governor Nwifuru’s meeting, which preceded Fubara’s, remained private, although it is believed to have focused on regional issues such as infrastructure development and security concerns in the South-East.

The timing of Fubara’s meeting is significant, coming on the heels of a major defection of 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors, loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have dramatically shifted the power balance in the state legislature, leaving only three PDP-aligned members supportive of Fubara.

The defection has significant implications for the political landscape in Rivers State, and Fubara’s meeting with President Tinubu may be an attempt to navigate the changing dynamics. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the meeting will impact the state’s political landscape. The private nature of the discussion has sparked interest, with many awaiting further developments. With the political climate in Rivers State remaining uncertain, the meeting between President Tinubu and Governor Fubara is likely to be closely watched in the coming days.