At the climax of his political persecution, the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is reportedly on his way to joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following irresistible pressures from the presidency.
According to sources, the deal for Governor Fubara’s defection was sealed at a meeting christened ‘London Peace Accord 2025’ which he had with President Tinubu in London, where the president dangled the offer before his eyes in exchange for peace in Rivers State.
The meeting of allurement is the first interface the governor will have with the president since his suspension as Rivers State governor in March.
This latest stunt pulled by President Tinubu is one out of his many strategies to solidify his base by gaining control of more states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sources privy to the situation described the tactics used against Governor Fubara as “unprecedented and deeply troubling,” indicating a systematic effort to undermine his political influence.
“The President was determined to maintain control over Rivers State at all costs,” revealed a source. “There is genuine concern about the upcoming 2027 events. Internal evaluations indicated rising public dissatisfaction due to hardship, insecurity, and economic mismanagement. The strategy involved quelling opposition states and ensuring loyalty.”
The Federal Government’s laxity and reticence in addressing the Rivers State political crises at its inception, particular President Tinubu’s refusal to rein in Wike, his minister and main aggressor in the conflict, has further deepened suspicion of a behind-the-seen political scheming.
A source revealed that during the meeting, Governor Fubara consented to join the APC in exchange for political survival.
Reports confirmed that during an official trip to London in April, Tinubu met with the suspended governor. While the Presidency has not publicly spoken on the meeting, insiders speculate it was their first direct encounter since tensions escalated around the political crisis in Rivers.
At the heart of the agreement is the resolution that Fubara would be reinstated as governor, but on the condition that he would allow key APC stalwarts in the state to be part of his administration.
Meanwhile, Wike has since changed his public narrative, now calling Fubara “his son” and denying any conflict between them.
In an interview with BBC Pidgin, Wike dismissed claims of any conflict with the suspended Rivers State governor by stating: “Fubara is my son; why would I fight with him?”
“I am solely standing up to those who aim to take what they haven’t earned.
“If you don’t defeat them, they’ll believe… Take them down to the very end.
“They are now ashamed because they are being defeated, and they’re the ones promoting Fubara.”
As reported in the publication, Wike mentioned that during a visit, he informed Fubara of his willingness to pursue peace—provided that Fubara was also prepared for it.
“I told him that with both the yam and the knife in your hand, you are responsible for choosing how to pursue peace. If you seek genuine peace, you’ll take it; if you’re interested in deceitful peace, that’s also within your reach.”
However, beyond the facade of this political ceasefire, many observers are doubtful whether Fubara’s concession was not given under pressure.
