Photo File: Nyesom Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has confirmed that peace has returned to Rivers State following months of political tension and the imposition of emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on a media outlet on Thursday, Wike revealed that he spoke with Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Wednesday, ahead of the official lifting of the emergency rule by the presidency.

“As I speak to you, as of yesterday, I spoke to the Governor (Fubara). I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning,” Wike said.
“So, I can tell you that, by the grace of God, peace has returned. And look at what the Assembly did today to set the tone — you can see peace; you can see we are prepared, for the interest of the state. Let’s move forward.”

When asked who initiated the call between the two leaders, Wike played down the significance of that detail.
“It is not important who called,” he said, “what matters is that there is peace again in the state.”

The FCT Minister, who governed Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, had been at loggerheads with his successor, leading to a deep political crisis that culminated in President Tinubu’s suspension of the governor, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in March 2025.

However, Wike now insists that the conflict is a thing of the past and that he holds no grudge against Governor Fubara.

“I have already said that we’ve been speaking. I will not engage with a man I have not forgiven. Everything is over. I am not a politician who says one thing today and another tomorrow. We must move forward.”

He also took aim at critics who, according to him, have been working against efforts to restore peace in the oil-rich South-South state.

“Unfortunately, there are people who do not want peace. Today, I watched individuals twisting the law, claiming illegality in the conduct of local government elections.
But ask them: what did they do to prevent such illegality in the first place? When you hear them pontificating and shouting, you would think they have solutions—yet they do nothing except attempt to create crisis. The president has done a great deal for us, and peace has been restored,” he said.

Wike concluded by affirming that all political stakeholders in Rivers are now committed to unity and progress, adding that the recent actions of the Rivers State House of Assembly are clear signs of renewed cooperation and stability.