Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, returned to Port Harcourt on Friday evening after nearly two weeks abroad, sparking renewed discussions about peace efforts in the crisis-ridden state.
Fubara touched down at the international wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, around 7 p.m. and was seen in a now-viral video being received by aides before being swiftly escorted away in an SUV.
His return follows reports of a secret meeting in London between President Bola Tinubu and Governor Fubara. According to The Africa Report, the meeting was convened to devise a strategy to de-escalate tensions and restore normalcy in the oil-rich state.
A presidential aide, while confirming the meeting, described it as part of ongoing peace efforts:
“The meeting was part of the efforts by the President to find a lasting solution to the ongoing political crisis in that region.”
Recall that in March, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly. The move was triggered by escalating political unrest, attacks on oil pipelines by militant groups, and a power struggle involving Fubara and 27 lawmakers allegedly aligned with former governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Fubara’s quiet return raises speculation about a potential shift in the political deadlock and the terms discussed during the London talks.
