In a bold and emotional address to his supporters, the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has defended the recent peace agreement he reached with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, acknowledging the former governor’s pivotal role in the political trajectory of the state.
Speaking during a closed-door meeting held with key stakeholders and loyalists, Fubara emphasized the need for unity, reconciliation, and peace, noting that “no price is too big for peace.”
“I had a meeting with you on the 29th of May, 2025, here, and in that meeting, I did inform you that we are in a peace process,” Fubara said. “We have fought. I think, in my own assessment and in the assessment of anyone here who is genuine in this struggle, you will know that we have done what we need to do. At this point, the only solution is peace.”
In a striking show of maturity and political realism, Fubara openly acknowledged the contributions of Wike, with whom he has had a protracted political rift in recent months.
“Nobody can take away the role the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, played — that’s the truth,” he declared. “Yes, we might have our differences, but nobody here will say he doesn’t know the role he played. Nobody can wish away the risk he took.”
The Rivers political crisis, which saw Fubara suspended under controversial circumstances and sharply divided loyalties within the state’s ruling party, has drawn national attention. The peace agreement, mediated in part by senior political actors and the presidency, is seen as a turning point.
Fubara acknowledged the emotional toll of the crisis, revealing that both he and Wike carry their share of pain. “You can’t take away the fact that he’s hurt — he’s a human being. I also have my own share of pains too,” he said.
Appealing to his followers for understanding, the embattled governor stressed that peace is not only necessary but inevitable for progress in Rivers State. “Because it’s not even about me as a person — it’s about the overall interest of the state,” he said, citing stalled development projects as casualties of the prolonged crisis.
“This is the time for me to prove to you that I care for you,” Fubara assured. “But the sacrifice that we are going to make for us to achieve this total peace is going to be heavy, and I want everybody to prepare for it.”
Referencing a traditional metaphor from his culture, he concluded: “In my place, there’s a fish they call Atabala — you call it Tilapia. The native Tilapia doesn’t grow big. The mother Tilapia used to tell the kids that if you want to grow up to my own size, hide your head inside the mud… We’ve done our best, and what we need now is this peace so that we can grow.”
As Rivers State braces for a potential political reset, all eyes remain on the outcome of the truce — and whether the unity it promises can endure.
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