President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, that he would not regret the decisions he took during the political crisis in the state, following the intervention that brought him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, back together.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Saturday, November 7, while addressing political leaders and supporters at the Rainbow Coalition Presidential Campaign Rally held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The President commended Fubara for what he described as his maturity, understanding and respect for the wisdom of elders during efforts to resolve the prolonged political disagreement between him and Wike.
According to Tinubu, he personally intervened on behalf of the Rivers governor when the disagreement escalated into a political crisis.
“During the political crisis caused by a misunderstanding in the family, I intervened on your behalf. I thank Governor Fubara specifically for his maturity, understanding, and respect for the wisdom of elders when we intervened,” Tinubu said.
Turning directly to Fubara, the President assured him that he would not regret his decision to embrace reconciliation.
“Fubara, you will not regret what you have done as long as all of us are alive,” he declared.
The President’s remarks came amid renewed political alignment between Fubara and Wike after months of disagreements that plunged Rivers State into a prolonged political and governance crisis.
The dispute between the governor and his predecessor, who currently serves as FCT minister, had divided political actors in the state and generated tensions within the Rivers State House of Assembly.
However, recent reconciliation efforts have brought both political leaders together under the Rainbow Coalition, an alliance involving members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
As part of the political understanding reportedly reached during the reconciliation process, Fubara is not seeking a second term as governor.
Earlier at the rally, Fubara pledged to deliver no fewer than three million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, crediting Wike’s political leadership for the arrangement.
“Under the guidance and leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, we will deliver not less than three million votes for you,” the governor told the President.
He also announced that political supporters from the APC and PDP were working together under the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State.
“Let me also announce that in Rivers State, we are doing a Rainbow Coalition (APC and PDP),” Fubara added.
Following the governor’s speech, Tinubu stood up from his seat, embraced him and patted him on the back in a moment captured on video at the rally.
The President’s visit to Rivers State was part of activities aimed at mobilising political support for his second-term ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu arrived in Port Harcourt on Saturday after spending Friday in Akwa Ibom State, where he commissioned the Victor Attah International Airport and other projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration.
He was received at the Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport by Vice President Kashim Shettima, several South-South governors, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and other senior government officials.
The rally was hosted by Wike, who had earlier expressed confidence that more than 70,000 supporters would attend the event.
Speaking during an inspection of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Friday, the FCT minister said Rivers residents were enthusiastic about receiving the President.
“We are highly elated to receive Mr President. Rivers people are very enthusiastic to receive him tomorrow. That is why we have come here to see how prepared we are,” Wike said.