Reports are coming in that President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the ongoing feud between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
According to a highly credible source, Tinubu summoned Wike for a meeting over the Rivers crisis.
Saturday Punch reports that the source, who is close to the President, said that the meeting would be held outside the country.
Punch correspondents also gathered that Fubara flew out of the country on a private jet on Thursday with the plan of meeting Tinubu in France.
This comes amid a fresh impeachment process against Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, by members of the Rivers State House of Assembly said to be loyal to Wike.
At a plenary presided over by the Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, on Thursday, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Fubara.
The seven points of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara include the demolition of the Assembly Complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to obey the Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the House.
Also, Fubara’s deputy, Odu was accused of reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstructing the House of Assembly from performing its constitutional duties, and conniving to allow unauthorised persons to occupy offices without proper screening by the Assembly.
Amaewhule said the notice would be served on Fubara within the next seven days and adjourned plenary until January 15.
The Speaker described the impeachment notice as “good and in the interest of Rivers State,” accusing Fubara of rebuffing entreaties to present the 2026 budget, thereby undermining the powers of the Assembly.
The allegations against Fubara and Odu are similar to those earlier levelled against them before the declaration of a state of emergency and their six-month suspension by Tinubu in March 2025.
Tinubu had mediated in the matter, after which Fubara and Wike agreed to a truce.
About three months after end of the emergency rule, the two men started trading words.
Wike accused Fubara of reneging on their agreements, while Fubara made veiled jabs to his former boss.
As far as the fresh impeachment plot is concerned, the top source disclosed that the President had intervened.
“The President must see the danger in what Wike is doing, though I am aware that he has summoned him to a meeting in Dubai. You know the President is currently out of the country. Barring any last-minute change, they are expected to meet abroad. Wike cannot impeach Fubara; the President will call him to order,” he said.
The source described the FCT minister’s action as an affront to the President.
He maintained that if care was not taken, the move could push Ijaw youths back to the creeks.
Saturday Punch further reports that the official said: “What is happening is outright disrespect to the President by Wike, and it is against national interest. One of the reasons a state of emergency was declared in Rivers in March last year was the fear of a breakdown of law and order and the attendant consequences for oil production.
“If you say you want to sack the first Ijaw man to be governor, are you not sending the Ijaw people back to the creeks? That will have attendant effects on the economy, and the President will not allow that to happen.”
A senior aide to the President said he was not aware of the meeting with Wike, adding that the President was currently in France from where he would proceed to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The source noted that the FCT minister had no business in the UAE and only an appointment with Tinubu would make him travel there.
The source said: “Only Wike or his aides can say if there is any scheduled meeting between him and the President.
“When Fubara was moving to the APC, he met with the President, who approved his decision. The President also confirms that governors are the leaders of the party in their states.”