The President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in a closed-door meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, a former governor of the state, Peter Odili, and other stakeholders at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
National Infinity the Monday meeting is coming after weeks of strained relationship between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Wike himself was spotted at the State House premises earlier.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Rivers State deputy governor are also inside the President’s office complex as of this report.
The matter came to a head on December 11, when 27 out of 32 members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Wike defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC). Their seats were consequently declared vacant.
The burnt Assembly complex was demolished last week after which the governor presented the 2024 budget to a four-member Assembly led by his loyalist, Speaker Edison Ehie. The budget was passed barely 24 hours later.
Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public, it may be connected to the December 11 episode in the political crisis where 27 out of 32 members of the State House of Assembly—known to be Wike’s loyalists—defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All-Progressives Congress.
Consequently, the legislature declared their seats vacant.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has brokered an agreement between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the 27 Pro-Nyesom Wike Rivers lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This follows weeks of political tension in the state due to a face-off between the governor and his predecessor, Wike, who is the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The meeting, which was held at the instance of the president, saw both factions make concessions.
The meeting had in attendance Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Also at the meeting were ex-Rivers governor, Peter Odili; and some traditional rulers from the state.
Vice President Kashim Shettima; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila were also part of the meeting.
However, after Monday’s meeting, the warring parties agreed that all matters instituted in the courts by Fubara, and his team, be withdrawn immediately.
Fubara, Wike, Amaewhule and other gladiators in the crisis signed the agreement. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, also signed the document.
The Wike camp also agreed that all impeachment proceedings initiated against the governor by the Rivers State House of Assembly be dropped immediately
The parties in the feud resolved to recognise the leadership of Martin Amaewhule in the Rivers State House of Assembly and not that of Edison Ehie.
The two camps agreed to recognise Amaewhule and his 26 allies who recently resigned from the PDP to the APC.
The resolutions state thus:
1. ALL matters instituted in the courts by the Governor of RiversState, Sir Fubara, and his team, in respect of the political crisis in Rivers State, shall be withdrawn IMMEDIATELY
2. ALL impeachment proceedings initiated against the Governor of Rivers State by the Rivers State House of Assembly should be dropped immediately
3. The leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly as led by the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule shall be recognized alongside the 27 members who resigned from the PDP
4. The remunerations and benefits of ALL members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and their staff must be reinstated immediately and the Governor of Rivers State shall henceforth not interfere with the full funding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
5. The Rivers State House of Assembly shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference and/or hindrance from the Executive arm of government
6. The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Fubara, shall re-present the state budget to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly
7. The names of ALL commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council who resigned their appointments because of the political crisis in the state should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval
8. There should NOT be a caretaker committee for the local governments in Rivers State. The dissolution of the Local Government administration is null and void and shall not be recognized
