Amidst fresh tensions and threats of impeachment, President Bola Tinubu is said to have once again intervened in the growing conflict between Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, and Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

According to people with knowledge of the situation, the President called Wike to a meeting to talk about the Rivers State situation. Punch reports that since the President is currently abroad, the meeting is anticipated to take place outside of Nigeria. Additionally, it was learned that Governor Fubara traveled overseas earlier this week with the intention of meeting the President in an attempt to settle the conflict.

Fubara and Wike had previously reached a temporary ceasefire as a result of Tinubu’s mediation of the Rivers political crisis. However, tensions returned just three months after the state’s emergency measures ended, with the Rivers State House of Assembly allegedly starting new impeachment proceedings.

According to the report, a high-ranking source claimed that the President had intervened once more, voicing concern about the state’s political unrest. The source claims that Tinubu is anticipated to warn everyone concerned and stop any actions that might worsen Rivers State’s instability.

“The President understands the danger in allowing the crisis to escalate. He has summoned Wike for talks, and they are expected to meet abroad. Wike cannot impeach Fubara; the President will call him to order,” the source said.

Meanwhile, a senior official at the national secretariat of the ruling party disclosed that discussions were ongoing on how party leaders would also engage the President upon his return to the country.

In a related development, an ally of the FCT minister dismissed claims that Wike was behind the impeachment moves against Governor Fubara. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the ally said the Rivers State lawmakers were acting independently and not at the behest of the former governor.

The source also rejected suggestions that Wike was disrespecting the President by backing actions against Fubara, describing such claims as misleading.

“People accusing the minister of disrespecting the President are being mischievous. Wike remains a strong supporter of the President. This issue is not about the President,” the source said.

The renewed intervention by President Tinubu is seen as a bid to prevent further political instability in Rivers State and avert a breakdown of governance.