By Our correspondent
Port Harcourt, Signs of renewed political tension emerged in Rivers State on Sunday as Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, marked Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary with separate events, casting doubt on the durability of the peace deal brokered earlier this year.
Governor Fubara led an interdenominational church service at the state government house, attended by his deputy, the Chief Judge of the state, and top security officials. The event was billed as the official state function to commemorate the nation’s independence.
However, conspicuously absent were Speaker Amaewhule, members of the State House of Assembly, and the 23 local government chairmen widely seen as loyalists of former governor and current Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike. Their absence has been interpreted by political watchers as a deliberate snub — one that highlights deepening fractures within the state’s leadership.
A close ally of Governor Fubara, posting on social media shortly after the event, condemned the boycott, arguing that genuine commitment to peace requires active participation in state affairs. “Peace isn’t just about words or high-level meetings. It’s about showing up,” the ally said, while also calling on President Bola Tinubu to keep a close eye on developments in the state.
Political analysts say the situation underscores the fragility of the truce brokered by President Tinubu earlier in the year, after a public and protracted standoff between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike. Despite public commitments to reconciliation, the two camps appear to be drifting further apart.
“This is not just about attendance at an event — it’s symbolic of the lingering power struggle in the state,” said one observer. “It shows that the fault lines are still very active beneath the surface.”
While Governor Fubara continues to project a sense of normalcy through official engagements, Speaker Amaewhule and other Wike-aligned officials have increasingly been seen organising parallel activities — a move that could signal a breakdown in political cohesion within the state.
With the peace accord now seemingly under strain, concerns are mounting that Rivers State may be heading toward another chapter of political instability — one with potential implications for governance and public confidence.
