Skip to main content

State of Emergency: Tinubu reportedly meets Fubara in London

President Bola Tinubu held a closed-door meeting in London with suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, marking their first face-to-face encounter since Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state last month.

According to sources confirmed by The Africa Report, the meeting was requested by Fubara and took place while Tinubu was wrapping up an 18-day trip abroad that began in Paris and ended in the UK.

The specifics of the discussions remain confidential, but insiders revealed that the talks centred on restoring democratic governance and the possibility of Fubara returning to office before his six-month suspension lapses.

“This was a high-level dialogue to resolve an escalating political impasse. There is now a path being considered to reintegrate Fubara into the state’s leadership structure,” said a presidential aide who requested anonymity.

President Tinubu’s controversial invocation of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution on March 18 led to the removal of Fubara from office, alongside his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

In a national address, Tinubu cited “months of intense political instability” that had “paralysed governance” in Rivers State, warning it had begun to “threaten national stability.”

In Fubara’s absence, Navy Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas was appointed as the sole administrator of the state.

The decision sparked outrage among opposition leaders, with governors from seven PDP-controlled states filing a suit at the Supreme Court to challenge the legality of the emergency rule and demand a return to elected leadership.

Conspicuously absent from the London talks was Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Fubara’s estranged political mentor, Nyesom Wike.

Sources close to the presidency say Wike is “unsettled” by the meeting and its potential implications.

Tinubu is now expected to host further reconciliation talks with Fubara, Wike, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, in what may be a final effort to broker peace and stability in the crisis-hit region.

ridoola.blogspot.com.ng

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Okpebholo suspends A-G & LG Chair under 3 months over finance dealings

The Edo Government has announced the suspension of Samson Osagie , its Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and Damian Lawani , chairman of the Local Government Service Commission. Mr Musa Ikhilor , Secretary to the State Government (SSG) announced the suspension in a statement in Benin on Thursday morning. ALSO READ: Kano Govt suspend 2 school principals for alleged absenteeism, negligence Ikhilor said the two-state top officials were suspended over allegations of “grave official and financial interactions”. Okpebholo suspends Edo Attorney-General and LG Service Commission Chairman According to him, the suspension, which takes immediate effect, is pending the conclusion of an investigation into the allegations. The SSG said; It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that Gov. Monday Okpebholo has approved the suspension from office of the Chairman of Edo Local Government Service Commission, Damian Lawani and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Os...

List of America's one-term presidents & why they were not re-elected

U.S. President Joe Biden becomes the most recent entrant in a list of president who served for only one term. U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he would not be seeking re-election for a second term in the November 5, 2024 elections. Biden, in a statement said that he would be focused on completing his remaining term, endorsing his Vice President Kamala Harris as his most preferred nominee for the Democratic Party to take on former President Donald Trump. Joe Biden endorses Kamala Harris as Democrats' candidate after withdrawing from race [X:@JoeBiden] Biden now joins a list of former U.S. Presidents that only served for one term. John Adams (1797-1801) The second president of the United States, John Adams was a Founding Father who faced significant challenges during his presidency, including conflicts with political adversaries and foreign nations. His support for the Alien and Sedition Acts, perceived as a violation of civil liberties, contributed to his unpopulari...

Tinubu appoints MKO Abiola's son, Jamiu as SSA on Linguistics & Foreign Matters

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jamiu Abiola as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters. The appointee is one of the children of the late Chief Moshood Kolawole Abiola , the winner of the 1993 presidential election annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida . According to a statement by Segun Imohiosen , the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Jamiu's appointment took effect from November 14, 2024. Imohiosen said the appointment aligns with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended. Until his recent deployment, the appointee served as the Special Assistant to the President of Special Duties in the office of the Vice President. Tinubu tasked Jamiu to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new ...