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By Myke Agunwa
In an effort to revive his waning political image and frustrate the coalition building up against him, President Bola Tinubu is considering reversing the State of Emergency declared in Rivers State before the expiration of the initial period of six months.
The president has also been receiving more knocks following the way the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas is going about the administration of the State.
The decision of the President was criticised by the organised labour, the PDP governors, the Nigerian Bar Association, the civil society and several media organisations.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders described the move as a power grabbing strategy ahead of the 2027 election.
Moreover, over 11 court cases at the Federal High Courts in Port Harcourt and Abuja and the Supreme Court of Nigeria have been initiated by various groups to challenge the action of the President.
A source close to the Presidential Villa disclosed to Pointblank News discreetly that President Tinubu met with Gov Siminalayi Fubara behind closed doors during his working vacation in London to find political solution to the situation and ease the tension and distrust that is building in the oil-rich state.
He revealed that Tinubu invited Fubara, to a close door meeting in London, the United Kingdom and part of the deal was that he must join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The suspended governor, it was learnt travelled out of Nigeria on Saturday and landed at the Frankfurt Airport in Germany en route London, where both parties reportedly met for at least four hours to make some concessions.
Pointblank News gathered that Fubara’s last Saturday London trip marked his first outing outside the country since he was suspended from office on March 18.
The source who confirmed the meeting said, “It is true. Governor Fubara held a private meeting with the president last week. Fubara has promised to make some compromises. Negotiations are ongoing, but from all indications, his suspension will be lifted before the six-month deadline,” said an adviser to the president who wished to remain anonymous.
Another presidential aide added that Fubara is also open to joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to ingratiate himself with the president and then obtain cover as that is also one of the conditions on the table.
“If Fubara joins the APC, it means the president’s chances of winning Rivers State are much higher,” he said.
It was also learnt that Fubara’s estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, was not part of the meeting and was uncomfortable with such meetings taking place behind his back.
However, Tinubu is expected to broker a meeting between Fubara, Wike, and the Rivers State lawmakers to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the state.
Recall that the president had on March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State for six months, just hours after two oil pipelines exploded.
Since the foisting of the emergency rule, there has been a lot of pressure on the president to reinstate the governor and all the dismantled democratic systems in the state.
Placards-carrying women took to the streets of PortHacourt daily, cladded in different colours of black , white, and red, chanting songs to oppose the declaration of emergency rule and the suspension of Governor Fubara.
Since Fubara’s suspension, however, there have been weekly protests in Rivers State and cases instituted in court, but the governor has been criticised for not taking a tougher stance.
In his Easter message, the suspended governor called on the people of Rivers State to continue to support President Tinubu, this confirming his eagerness to fulfill the conditions and return to office.