…say I won’t abandon Rivers people, but the price of peace ‘ll be heavy
In a defining moment for Rivers State’s fragile political landscape, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has broken his silence on the controversial reconciliation process with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, declaring that the state must now embrace peace, however painful, or risk total stagnation.
Speaking on Saturday June 29, 2025, during a crucial meeting with his core supporters under the banner of Simplified Stakeholders in Port Harcourt, Governor Fubara delivered a candid, emotionally charged address in which he admitted that the cost of ending the long-running political war would be “heavy,” but insisted that it was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good of Rivers State.
“We have fought,” Fubara acknowledged, “and anyone who is sincere knows we have done all we can. But the only real solution now is peace. There’s no price too big to pay for it, and I meant every word.”
In what appears to be the clearest confirmation yet of behind-the-scenes negotiations,
Fubara revealed that he has met with his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, and acknowledged the emotional toll on both sides. “He is hurt, and so am I,” the governor said.
“But we must rise above personal pain for the interest of our people and the stability of our state.”
The governor’s address marks a significant turning point in the bitter power tussle that has divided the political establishment in Rivers State for months, paralyzing development, grounding legislative activity, and raising national concern over stability in one of Nigeria’s most strategic oil-producing states.
While recognizing Wike’s controversial role in his emergence, Fubara did not shy away from calling for honest reflection. “Nobody can deny the role the FCT Minister played.
But also, no peace broker can truly succeed until both parties sit together and agree. We have now reached that point.”
Still, his tone was far from celebratory. Governor Fubara was brutally honest about the potential fallout.
“The sacrifice required for total peace will be heavy. But I will not abandon you. I am making that commitment today.”
Political analysts believe the governor’s remarks are a calculated attempt to consolidate internal support ahead of difficult concessions in the days ahead.
His appeal for unity under the banner of supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could also signal alignment with the national peace efforts rumored to be behind the sudden détente.
Yet, even as Fubara preaches reconciliation, skepticism lingers in many quarters. Critics argue that a forced peace with Wike may come at the cost of institutional independence and democratic accountability in the state.
Others warn that the governor’s loyalists, many of whom view Wike’s influence as overbearing and undemocratic, may not accept the truce without internal resistance.
As Governor Fubara invoked the parable of the native Tilapia , urging stakeholders to lie low for survival and future growth, the underlying message was unmistakable: the bruising political battle may be ending, but the wounds are fresh, the stakes remain high, and the road to genuine reconciliation is long and uncertain.
Rivers State watches.
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