Suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, and suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Martin Amaewhule made a rare joint appearance on Saturday, just days after high-level reconciliation talks were held to ease political tensions in the state.
The trio was seen together at the burial of Wike’s uncle in Rumuepirikom, Rivers State. Their presence at the event follows closely behind Thursday’s peace meeting in Abuja, which was convened by President Bola Tinubu in a bid to end the deepening rift among the state’s top political figures.
The political crisis in Rivers State has drawn national attention, with Governor Fubara at odds with his predecessor and erstwhile ally, Wike. The conflict has led to significant fallout, including the suspension of both Fubara and Amaewhule, raising questions about the stability of governance in the oil-rich state.
A video of the event was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, who captioned it: “Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, alongside the Governor Siminalayi Fubara, at the burial of Wike’s Uncle in Rumuepirikom, Rivers State today.” The video quickly drew public attention due to the political implications of the gathering.
The funeral was a significant occasion, attracting a number of prominent figures in Nigeria’s political landscape. Among those present were Senators Allwell Onyesoh, George Thompson Sekibo, and Olaka Nwogu, signaling the influence of the event beyond state politics.
Also in attendance were former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, former lawmaker Hon. Ken Chikere, and Victor Giadom, the South-South Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, a former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was also present.
While the joint appearance did not include any public statements from the involved parties, the event has sparked cautious optimism that the Abuja peace initiative may be yielding early results. Political observers say the gathering could signal a thaw in relations and a possible step toward reconciliation.
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