By Peter Omopo
A former Niger Delta militant leader, Endurance Amagbein, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the protracted political crisis between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Amagbein made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, warning that failure to urgently address the feud could allow the situation to escalate, with negative consequences for peace and stability in Rivers State.
According to him, only the direct intervention of President Tinubu can restore harmony in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections. He called on both Wike and Fubara to put aside their differences and adopt what he described as a “father-and-son” approach in resolving the dispute.
The former militant, also known as Adaka Boro II, said reconciliation had become necessary as political saboteurs were exploiting the crisis to pursue personal interests through what he termed diversionary politics.
He noted that while national attention remained focused on the political tension in Rivers State, some individuals with no genuine concern for the state’s development were taking advantage of the situation to enrich themselves by fuelling division.
“Wike and Fubara should work together to promote President Tinubu’s 2027 agenda and not allow crisis-mongers to destabilise Rivers State. Some of these individuals are not even from Rivers State, but have infiltrated the political space to add fuel to the fire,” Amagbein said.
He also urged prominent Niger Delta leaders, including King Asari Dokubo and King Ateke Tom, to remain vigilant and ensure that external forces do not destabilise the region.
Amagbein cautioned Ijaw youths against taking sides in the dispute, stressing that the crisis should be viewed as a misunderstanding that could be resolved through dialogue. He warned that some actors were allegedly planning to use the conflict to undermine President Tinubu’s chances in Rivers State during the 2027 presidential election.
“Wike and Fubara should reconcile and put to shame those who are enemies of the Tinubu-led government,” he added.
The political crisis in Rivers State arose from a fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, who is widely regarded as the key political figure behind Fubara’s emergence as governor in 2023.
Soon after Fubara assumed office, tensions emerged between the two leaders, escalating into a struggle for political control that spilled into the Rivers State House of Assembly. This resulted in divisions among lawmakers, repeated legislative confrontations, and heightened political uncertainty.
The prolonged rift has attracted national attention due to Wike’s prominent role in the Tinubu administration and Rivers State’s strategic importance in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Despite several reconciliation efforts by party leaders and stakeholders, the crisis has persisted, raising concerns over governance, security, and political stability in the state as the 2027 elections draw closer.
