Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a respected member of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council and former spokesperson of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has hailed Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing it as a conscious sacrifice made for the sake of peace in Rivers State.
The high-level meeting between the governor and his predecessor comes amid a lingering political standoff that has polarized the state’s political landscape. Speaking on the development, Sara-Igbe described the governor’s visit as a courageous and strategic gesture aimed at restoring calm.
“Governor Fubara is determined to achieve peace,” Sara-Igbe said. “He is the one making the effort to reconcile, while Wike appears to be holding onto a combative stance. To attain peace, you must be willing to make sacrifices.”
He also pointed out that the meeting was private, and that details would only be revealed at the discretion of the FCT Minister. “That discussion is not for public consumption, except Wike chooses to disclose it. Eventually, we will hear what came out of it,” he added.
Wike confirmed the meeting during a live broadcast on Monday, stating that Fubara had visited him at his Port Harcourt residence, accompanied by two All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and another individual.
“Yes, he came. He came with two governors and one other person,” Wike said. “They’re APC governors, so I won’t drag them. He said he wants peace — that’s fine. I also want peace.”
Despite the apparent move toward reconciliation, Wike laid the blame for the political unrest on Fubara, whom he accused of disregarding advice from senior political stakeholders.
“When the crisis began, we sat him down — Seyi Makinde, Ortom, Ikpeazu, and Ugwuanyi were all present. We told him this path wasn’t good. We reminded him that leadership requires humility and urged him not to alienate those who worked for his rise,” Wike said.
While acknowledging Fubara’s constitutional status as governor, Wike warned against abandoning political allies. “Nobody is disputing that he is the governor. But loyalty and gratitude are critical in politics. You don’t forget those who toiled day and night to support you,” he stressed.
On a different note, Wike addressed the persistent issue of open grazing in the Federal Capital Territory. He explained that although land had been earmarked for grazing, unauthorized occupation by land grabbers has complicated the situation.
“Governance is not like managing a private venture,” Wike said. “You must be measured in your approach. The land originally meant for grazing has been encroached upon, and we are working on resolving the issue.”
