Rivers crisis deepens as Wike rejects reconciliation talks with Fubara

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has dismissed the possibility of resolving his feud with Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State.

The conflict stems from a power struggle over the state’s political structure.

Following the peace pact, the parties agreed to withdraw all impeachment proceedings and court cases.

On December 25, 2023, Fubara said he was committed to implementing the eight-point peace deal, adding that the agreement was not a “death sentence”.

Speaking during a media chat on Sunday, Wike accused Fubara and his camp of refusing to implement the president’s directives.

The FCT minister also accused Fubara of not fulfilling his obligations as governor.

“I’m wondering, what conflict to resolve? Mr President, in his wisdom, called all parties. He said withdraw the impeachment notice, you go and do this, you go and do that, but they never returned to him,” he said.

“The assembly withdrew the impeachment notice; you did one and two, and then you sent people to go to court. Elder, have you gone back to Mr President to tell him we can’t do three and four? Nothing.

“I have never seen this in my life — for a president to call parties, and one party goes back and says it’s political. Who does that?”

Wike also flayed Fubara for “running” a four-member Rivers assembly. The legislature has been polarised on the heels of the conflict.