Wike Accuses Fubara of Reneging on Peace Deal Brokered by President Tinubu

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has sharply criticised Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, claiming the governor agreed before President Bola Tinubu to forgo a second term in exchange for the withdrawal of impeachment proceedings against him. Wike made the remarks during his monthly media parley in Abuja, reigniting tensions in one of Nigeria’s most volatile political theatres.

Wike insisted the understanding was reached in the presence of the President during arbitration efforts to resolve the long-running feud. He expressed frustration that Fubara now appears determined to pursue re-election, despite the terms. “You appeared before the President of a country… and these people have done their own part and you say you don’t want to obey your own part again,” Wike stated, dismissing suggestions that popular demand is driving Fubara’s ambitions.

The minister questioned claims of grassroots support for Fubara’s return, arguing that politicians routinely manufacture such narratives. He noted his ability to mobilise crowds and pointed out that the same faces often appear at rallies across parties, from PDP to APC and ADC. Wike challenged reporters to identify the specific “people” pushing for Fubara, recalling moments when the governor faced near-removal and a state of emergency was declared.

Rivers State has endured years of instability since Fubara, who was Wike’s anointed successor, fell out with his predecessor shortly after assuming office in 2023. The crisis escalated with attempts by lawmakers loyal to Wike to impeach the governor, leading to parallel assemblies, legal battles, and governance paralysis in the oil-rich state. President Tinubu has intervened multiple times, including a December 2023 eight-point peace deal, a six-month state of emergency declared in March 2025 with a sole administrator appointed, and subsequent meetings aimed at restoring order.

These interventions highlight the federal government’s concern over stability in a state critical to Nigeria’s economy. Rivers contributes significantly to national oil revenue, and prolonged political uncertainty risks investor confidence, development projects, and public service delivery. The power tussle also reflects deeper issues of godfatherism in Nigerian politics, where successors often chafe under the influence of former mentors.

Wike’s latest outburst underscores the fragility of the repeated peace pacts. He warned against diminishing the President’s office by constantly seeking intervention in every dispute, while affirming that no one can stop a politician from contesting elections. However, he stressed the importance of honouring agreements made at the highest level. The minister has previously hinted at revealing full details of the understanding reached before Tinubu.

The development carries weight ahead of the 2027 general elections. Rivers remains a strategic battleground, and any breakdown in the Wike-Fubara truce could fracture political structures, trigger fresh defections, and affect alignments at the national level. It also tests the limits of presidential mediation in state affairs within Nigeria’s federal system. While past interventions provided temporary calm, sustained implementation of agreements has proven elusive amid competing ambitions and shifting loyalties.

Observers note that the crisis has already consumed significant political capital and diverted attention from governance priorities such as infrastructure, security, and economic diversification in the Niger Delta. How the parties navigate the current impasse will influence not only Rivers’ immediate stability but also the broader template for resolving similar godfather-successor conflicts across states.

As political actors gear up for another cycle, the Rivers drama serves as a stark reminder of the personal and institutional costs of unresolved elite rivalries in Nigeria’s democracy.