Tinubu Summons Wike for Dubai Talks as Rivers Crisis Escalates

President Bola Tinubu has moved to prevent a total political meltdown in Rivers State by summoning the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to an emergency meeting. This intervention comes as the power struggle between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara reaches a dangerous new peak, with the state’s legislative arm initiating fresh impeachment proceedings against the Governor and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The meeting is reportedly scheduled to take place outside Nigeria, specifically in Dubai, where the President is expected to call for an immediate ceasefire. Sources close to the Presidency indicate that Governor Fubara has also traveled abroad, flying out on a private jet Thursday with the intention of briefing the President in France before the scheduled transition to the United Arab Emirates. This high-level “shuttle diplomacy” highlights the gravity of a crisis that now threatens both regional stability and national economic interests.

The latest firestorm was ignited when lawmakers loyal to Wike suddenly fast-tracked impeachment proceedings, catching the executive arm off guard. During a tense plenary session, the House presented a seven-point notice of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara. The charges range from the demolition of the Assembly Complex to extra-budgetary spending and the refusal to obey a Supreme Court ruling regarding the financial autonomy of the legislature.

In a move that effectively cripples the state’s administration, the Assembly has also barred the Governor from presenting the 2026 budget or the Mid-Term Expenditure Framework until the probe is concluded. This legislative blockade has left Rivers State—a critical hub for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry—in a state of fiscal limbo, sparking fears of a governance vacuum that could invite further unrest.

Political analysts and security experts have warned that the attempt to remove Fubara, the first Ijaw man to hold the governorship in Rivers, could have catastrophic consequences. Ijaw youth groups and national leaders have already signaled that any perceived injustice against the Governor could drive militants back to the creeks, potentially disrupting oil production. Critics of the Minister have described the renewed impeachment push as an affront to the President’s previous peace efforts and a distraction from the federal government’s broader economic agenda.

Adding to the complexity is the historical context of the rift. Just last year, the President was forced to declare a state of emergency in Rivers following a similar breakdown of order. While a temporary truce was brokered at the time, the current escalation suggests that the underlying issues of political control and “godfatherism” remain unresolved. Wike has reportedly insisted that Fubara will not secure a second term, even after the Governor’s recent strategic alignment with the All Progressives Congress.

As the protagonists head for the meeting in Dubai, the stakes could not be higher. The President is reportedly concerned that the optics of the crisis are making the federal administration appear weak and unable to maintain order within its own ranks. National leaders of the APC are also said to be growing weary of the friction, with some reportedly pushing for Wike’s removal from the cabinet to preserve the party’s image and regional peace.

For now, Rivers State remains on a knife-edge. The Seven-day window for the service of the impeachment notice is ticking, and the outcome of the foreign deliberations between Tinubu and Wike will likely determine whether the state moves toward reconciliation or falls into a deeper, more violent confrontation. The world is watching to see if the President can finally rein in the “Iroko” of Rivers politics or if the flames of impeachment will consume the state’s remaining stability.