President Bola Tinubu on Monday met with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja — their first official engagement since the controversial suspension of democratic governance in the oil-rich state was lifted.
Governor Fubara arrived at the State House at about 6:22 p.m., dressed in a white caftan and black cap, before heading into a closed-door session with the President.
The meeting comes just days after Tinubu announced the end of the six-month state of emergency imposed on Rivers State on September 18, 2025, restoring normal governance.
In a nationally televised address on March 18, 2025, Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspended democratic structures, and appointed a sole administrator — a move that sparked outrage from opposition parties, civil society organisations, and rights activists who condemned it as a direct assault on democracy.
While details of Monday’s discussion were not immediately disclosed, political observers say it may be linked to efforts to resolve the lingering political crisis in Rivers and re-establish stability in the Niger Delta, a region critical to Nigeria’s oil economy.
Governor Fubara’s visit followed a series of separate consultations by President Tinubu with key political and economic figures earlier in the day, including Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq; Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman, Zacch Adedeji; and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.
The Rivers crisis has been one of the most contentious issues of Tinubu’s administration, with critics accusing the Presidency of exploiting federal power to weaken democratic institutions and undermine local governance in the state.
