Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has met with the suspended Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, and other lawmakers in a significant step towards reconciliation.
As reported by The Nation, sources confirmed that the closed-door meeting took place on Thursday in Abuja.
The atmosphere was reportedly cordial, with Fubara and Amaewhule seen exchanging jokes and sharing a light moment, suggesting a thaw in previously strained relations.
According to a source familiar with the discussions, the meeting marked the first direct engagement between Fubara and the aggrieved legislators.
“It was a fruitful dialogue,” the source said, noting that a broader peace meeting is being planned to address outstanding issues.
Fubara has been on suspension since March 19, following a state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu to curb the political crisis in Rivers State.
The National Assembly ratified the emergency declaration, and Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas (rtd.) was appointed as interim administrator of the state for an initial six-month period.
While Fubara had previously met with President Tinubu and his estranged political ally, Nyesom Wike, Thursday’s meeting with the lawmakers is seen as the most tangible move toward resolving the conflict.
Wike had earlier emphasized that true reconciliation could only begin once Fubara reached out to key stakeholders—especially members of the House of Assembly, whose salaries and entitlements had reportedly been withheld for over two years.
Thursday’s meeting has been welcomed by many in Rivers State, including Fubara’s supporters, who described the move as a long-overdue but commendable step toward peace.