By Solomon OKPO
Port Harcourt
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has made a passionate appeal to political stakeholders and supporters of his administration to embrace peace, stressing that the ongoing reconciliation efforts with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, are critical for the stability and development of the state.
Speaking at a meeting with members of the “Simplified Movement” on Saturday, June 28, 2025, Governor Fubara revealed that he and Chief Wike have had direct engagements aimed at healing their political rift, and urged his supporters to accept the peace process—however painful it might be.
“We have fought. I think we have done what we need to do,” the governor said. “If you want to be truthful to yourself, the only solution is peace. There is no price that is too big for peace.”
Governor Fubara acknowledged the instrumental role Chief Wike played in his emergence and rise, noting that while differences later emerged between them, no one could erase the political risks Wike had taken in the past.
“Nobody here will say he doesn’t know the role he played. Yes, at a point we had our differences, and if today there’s a need for us to settle, anyone who genuinely believes in me should understand that it’s the right thing to do,” the governor stated.
He underscored the economic and developmental cost of the protracted feud, lamenting stalled infrastructure projects and a slowdown in governance. He insisted that the true interest of the state lies in reconciliation.
“This is not even about me as a person, it’s about the overall interest of Rivers State. Look at the projects we’ve initiated. Many have been abandoned,” Fubara said. “We know the progress we would have recorded and the areas that would have been developed.”
He assured stakeholders that his administration would not abandon its core supporters but urged them to brace up for the weighty compromises required for sustainable peace.
“The sacrifice we are going to make to achieve total peace is going to be heavy, and I want everybody to prepare for it,” he said.
Using a metaphor from his native culture, Fubara likened the situation to the growth of the local Tilapia fish, Atabala, which must bury its head in the mud to survive and grow. “Every one of us should understand that at this time, we’ve done our best. What we need now is this peace, so we can grow.”
Governor Fubara concluded with a firm declaration of commitment to peace, reiterating that only total reconciliation will enable President Bola Tinubu to intervene effectively in Rivers State’s political affairs.
“By the grace of God, the both of us have gotten to that point. Without it, there’s no way we can make progress,” the governor affirms.
