Port Harcourt, Rivers State — In a development seen by many as a decisive gesture toward reconciliation and unity, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, convened with the Rivers State Elders Council on Saturday evening in Port Harcourt. The meeting, held behind closed doors, also included the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, as well as key political actors and elder statesmen of the state.
Though the specific agenda of the gathering has not been publicly disclosed, the convergence of top leaders and elders is being widely interpreted as a signal of renewed unity within the political family of Rivers State. According to statements shared by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister, the meeting “signifies that the political family is fully united.”
Background and Context
The timing of the meeting is notable. It comes shortly after the reinstatement of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, following a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State declared by President Bola Tinubu earlier in the year. Many observers see this meeting as part of efforts to heal political ruptures that have persisted across factions aligned with Wike and Fubara.
Within Rivers State politics, past months have featured tensions and public posturing over influence, appointments, and alignment. The meeting, in this light, is being interpreted as an attempt to reforge alliances and quieten internal fault lines. In particular, the presence of the Elders Council—often regarded as custodians of political wisdom and legitimacy—imbues the gathering with moral weight.
Who Was Present
• Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister and a major political figure from Rivers State
• Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State
• Martins Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly
• Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Chairman of the Rivers State Elders Council
• Other elder statesmen and leaders, including members of the Rivers State Elders Council and the Rivers State caucus in the National Assembly
Photos of the meeting were shared publicly by Olayinka on social media, but he declined to reveal the full details of what transpired inside the session.
Interpretations & Implications
The headline takeaway from most commentators is the symbolic reunification of Wike’s “political family” in Rivers. It is viewed as a statement that internal divisions may be giving way to a more cohesive alignment under shared leadership. For many, this is a move toward political stabilization in a state long beset by contesting interests and alignment rivalries.
However, skeptics caution that gestures of unity do not always translate immediately into results on governance, policy coherence, or trust among grassroots supporters. The true test will lie in how this unity is sustained—through appointments, resource allocation, and actual cooperation across party lines and factions.
Another potential implication is the strengthening of Fubara’s position. The meeting grants a higher degree of legitimacy and public perception of broad backing that may insulate him from internal opposition. Similarly, Wike’s influence and relevance in Rivers affairs are reaffirmed by his role as facilitator of reconciliation.
What Remains Unclear
While the optics were powerful, the meeting left many questions unanswered:
• What specific agreements, if any, were reached on governance, appointments, or policy direction?
• Which factions or actors were marginalized or brought back into the fold?
• How will this unity translate practically in holding the political base together?
• Will this meeting usher in new institutional mechanisms for resolving disputes internally?
Until more disclosures are made, observers and stakeholders will be watching closely for how this unity is operationalized.
Conclusion
The meeting in Port Harcourt between Wike, Fubara, and the Rivers Elders Council represents a noteworthy step toward political rapprochement within Rivers State. On paper and in public perception, it signals that Rivers’ dominant political forces are seeking harmony after a period of turbulence. The challenge now is converting that symbolic unity into lasting cohesion, transparency, and productive governance.