Tinubu praises Fubara for restoring peace with Wike as Rivers leaders unite at the President’s 2027 campaign rally in Port Harcourt
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for embracing reconciliation with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following their prolonged political disagreement, assuring the governor that he would not regret choosing peace.
Tinubu made the remarks on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
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The President acknowledged Fubara’s conduct during the political crisis, praising his willingness to accept intervention and maintain stability despite the disagreements that had divided the state’s political leadership.
Addressing the governor directly, Tinubu recalled his intervention in the dispute and expressed appreciation for Fubara’s response.
“I want to thank you also again for maintaining peace and stability during the crisis created by misunderstanding in the family.
I intervened on your behalf, Sim Fubara, the host governor of today,” the President said.
Tinubu further praised the governor for demonstrating maturity and respecting the intervention of political elders.
“I want to thank you for maturity, understanding, respect for the wisdom of elders. When we intervened, you respected our position, you maintained peace, you are a committed democrat,” he added.
In a particularly significant assurance, the President told Fubara that his decision to embrace reconciliation would not be regretted.
“Fubara, you will not regret what you have done as long as all of us are alive,” Tinubu declared.
The President’s remarks provided a notable moment at the rally, particularly given the history of the political disagreement between Fubara and Wike, who previously served as Rivers State governor before becoming FCT minister.
The dispute began in 2023, less than six months after Fubara assumed office, and gradually developed into a wider struggle over political influence and control of the state’s government structures.
The disagreement divided the Rivers State House of Assembly, with lawmakers aligned with Wike opposing Fubara’s administration.
Tensions escalated over legislative authority, budgetary matters and the composition of the state legislature.
The crisis eventually reached a critical point in March 2025, when Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed to administer the state during the emergency.
The extraordinary intervention attracted national attention, particularly because it involved the suspension of elected state officials amid an escalating political dispute.
Following reconciliation efforts facilitated by Tinubu, the state of emergency ended on September 17, 2025, allowing Fubara and other elected officials to return to their positions.
However, the restoration of elected leadership did not immediately remove the political tensions surrounding the relationship between the governor and his predecessor. Subsequent negotiations and political realignments continued to shape the state’s political landscape.
By November 2026, the relationship had entered a new phase, with Fubara and Wike appearing on the same political platform during preparations for the 2027 general elections.
At Saturday’s rally, Fubara also declared his support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition, promising that Rivers State would work towards delivering three million votes for the President.
The governor specifically acknowledged Wike’s political leadership in the arrangement, signalling the extent of the reconciliation efforts.
“Under the guidance and leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, we will deliver not less than three million votes for you,” Fubara reportedly told Tinubu.
Fubara also described the rally as evidence that Rivers State was moving beyond its period of political disagreements.
In a separate address, the governor declared that the state had experienced enough division and needed to concentrate on development.
“The time of war is over; it’s time of peace. We cannot continue to fight and expect the state to move forward,” he said.
He added that political disagreements had consumed valuable time and resources that could have been directed towards improving the lives of residents.
The reconciliation has also become part of the political mobilisation surrounding Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Wike, who is coordinating the Rainbow Coalition’s presidential campaign activities in Rivers State, had previously urged Fubara’s supporters to support Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The FCT minister argued that stronger political cooperation with the Federal Government could create opportunities for additional appointments and infrastructure development in Rivers State.
At the Port Harcourt rally, Wike described the gathering as evidence of the state’s political support for Tinubu, citing the large turnout at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
The President, meanwhile, used the occasion to seek support for another term in office, highlighting his administration’s stated commitment to youth education, welfare and skills development.
“Today again, I return here to say thank you and seek your support for the second term,” Tinubu told the gathering.
He added that young Nigerians remained important to his administration’s development plans, particularly in education, welfare and skills acquisition.
“I assure you that we have started the golden age, the prosperity is here,” the President declared.
The Rivers rally therefore carried significance beyond the President’s campaign activities. It provided a public demonstration of the political realignment involving Tinubu, Fubara and Wike after years of disagreements that had disrupted governance in the oil-producing state.
Nevertheless, the long-term implications of the reconciliation will depend on how the political arrangement translates into stable governance, cooperation among elected institutions and attention to the needs of Rivers residents.
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For now, Tinubu’s public commendation of Fubara signals his appreciation of the governor’s willingness to embrace the reconciliation process, while the appearance of Fubara and Wike on the same political platform marks another chapter in their complicated political relationship.
