Former Rivers State Commissioner for Employment and Empowerment, Leloonu Nwibubasa, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s meeting in Abuja, in which the suspended Governor, Sim Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and suspended members of the State House of Assembly were said to have agreed to end their political differences.
During an interview with Arise Television, Nwibubasa criticized Fubara for attending the meeting alone, without a balanced delegation, while all stakeholders supported Wike.
He claimed that Fubara went to Abuja as an individual rather than representing Rivers State’s collective interests, emphasizing the importance of a more balanced delegation.
According to Nwibubasa, achieving true peace requires addressing the core concerns of political control and state economic management.
He answered, “You don’t talk about peace unless you talk about equity. You cannot talk about peace unless you also talk about fairness. If he represented Rivers State’s desires, a more balanced delegation would have resulted in a capitulation rather than a reconciliation.
“Sustainable and long-term peace cannot be claimed unless there is equality and fairness. This entire debate has always been about forcing a man to satisfy a single person’s desires.”
Nwibubasa warned that if the meeting’s resolution simply returns the state to a political status quo in which Wike maintains de facto power, true progress in Rivers State will be difficult.
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He stated, “If all that is in the reconciliation is for everyone to go back and bow before the same man, then we have returned to the status quo…” That cannot lead to peace.
“Rivers State will not make progress until we have a leader who possesses the will to be different, the courage to dare, and not the timidity to maintain the status quo.”
According to Nwibubasa, the existing system may only provide a short-term benefit by lifting the unofficial state of emergency.
He expressed disappointment that Governor Fubara’s early effort to defend the state’s resources seemed to have been lost, adding that the entire problem has always had a 2027 undercurrent.
He stated, “The same gladiators will return.” and continue to make Rivers State the cow that they would milk for their own gain.”
“If he cannot succeed at this point, it simply means he has failed, and we will return to the status quo. Everything the FCT minister is doing today is to impress Mr President and show that he has something to offer in 2027.”
