The lingering political feud between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was evident on Tuesday when both leaders met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which involved a delegation from Ogoniland, focused on discussions about the resumption of oil production in the region.
A source at the meeting who spoke with Vanguard, revealed that despite posing for a group photograph with the President, Wike and Fubara avoided exchanging pleasantries or engaging with each other.
“Though both of them posed for a photograph with the President, they did not exchange pleasantries. No hug. No greetings. Everybody went straight for the meeting with the President, and after that, we all left,” the source disclosed.
Wike reportedly left the Villa immediately after the group photo to inspect and commission projects.
According to the source, the meeting was strictly a business parley to address the economic and developmental issues in Ogoniland.
“As a minister from Rivers, Wike must, as a necessity, be present whenever the President is meeting with a delegation from the state. The meeting was not a platform for the discussion of the Rivers political crisis. It was strictly a business parley,” the source clarified.
When asked if President Tinubu attempted to mediate between the two leaders, the source noted that there was no such discussion during the meeting.
“The President only engaged Magnus (Abe). He told Magnus that he had not been seeing him for some time, and Magnus replied that he had been around with the FCT Minister. At that point, Wike confirmed that Magnus had been working with him,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) has initiated efforts to broker peace between the two political heavyweights.
The group has established a peace committee headed by former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah, to mediate the conflict.
“This is yet another golden opportunity for both of them to end the fight and make up for peace so that Rivers State can move forward. The crisis is not doing the state any good. They must end this fight and utilize the opportunity offered by PANDEF,” a source close to the forum remarked.
