Following Thursday’s closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and suspended lawmakers announced a resolution to their months-long political rift.
All parties expressed commitment to reconciliation, with Wike stating that disagreements within a political family had been settled.
“We are members of the same political family,” Wike said. “Yes, just like humans, we all have disagreements, and then you have the time to settle your disagreements. That has been concluded today.”
He added that both he and the governor have agreed to work together moving forward, emphasizing unity.
However, a former legal adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) criticized the outcome, describing it as “drama” and warning that political reconciliation should not obscure constitutional violations.
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“So that they are shaking hands and smiling doesn’t change the fact that there is an illegality imposed on Rivers State,” he said during a television interview. “It’s an aberration and something that should never have happened in the first place.”
The former adviser argued that the suspension of elected lawmakers was anti-democratic and called for accountability.
He warned against any precedent where a democratically elected government undermines democratic institutions.
“There should never be a situation where democracy can be hijacked by a democratically elected president. It should not happen in Nigeria,” he said.
The Rivers crisis had raised concerns about internal party discipline, executive overreach, and the independence of state institutions. While Thursday’s meeting may signal de-escalation, critics insist the underlying issues remain unresolved.