The funeral, held in Rumuepirikom — Wike’s hometown — saw the presence of top political figures including Martin Amaewhule, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and a known ally of Wike.

The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, on Saturday, attended the funeral of Elder Omezurike Onuoha, the uncle of his political rival and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The funeral, held in Rumuepirikom — Wike’s hometown — saw the presence of top political figures including Martin Amaewhule, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and a known ally of Wike.

A Facebook post shared on Saturday by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, along with several photos, stated that, "The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday attended the burial of his uncle in Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

"Wike was joined at the ceremony by the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, among other dignitaries.

"Their appearance comes days after efforts to resolve the lingering political crisis in the state," he added.

However, the burial event appeared to mark a pivotal moment in the state’s political landscape, coming just days after a "reconciliation meeting" facilitated by President Bola Tinubu.

Meanwhile, following the Thursday night meeting, Wike had expressed optimism about the future of Rivers State.

He said, “We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family.”

Fubara had also expressed similar sentiments as Wike while thanking President Tinubu for his intervention.

Previously, SaharaReporters reported that Tinubu reportedly agreed to reinstate Siminalayi Fubara as the governor of Rivers State, but on the strict condition that he would not seek re-election at the end of his current tenure in 2027.

The agreement was reached during a closed-door meeting held Thursday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. 

According to multiple sources within the presidency, the meeting marked a significant breakthrough in Tinubu’s efforts to restore political stability in Rivers State, following a prolonged power struggle between Fubara and his political godfather, Wike. 

However, the deal came with steep conditions that considerably reduce the governor’s political leverage.

“The arrangement is clear: no second term, no local government control, and peace will return,” a source familiar with the negotiations reportedly said. 

Another insider added, “The president made it clear that Rivers cannot afford a prolonged crisis. The deal is about restoring calm, but it comes at a steep cost for Fubara.”

One of the central conditions of the agreement is that Fubara will serve out the remainder of his four-year tenure but will not be eligible to contest in the 2027 election. 

In return, all impeachment proceedings against him by the state assembly faction loyal to Wike would be dropped.

As part of the political compromise, Wike would reportedly be allowed to nominate all chairpersons for the 23 local government areas in Rivers State, a major concession that effectively hands grassroots political control back to the former governor.

“Wike is the real winner here. By controlling the local government chairmen, he retains significant influence over the state’s political machinery, which will be crucial for 2027,” a presidency source noted.

Additionally, Fubara is reported to have agreed to pay all outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers who were previously suspended. 

The legislators, led by Amaewhule, had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) amid the political crisis but continued to claim their seats in the assembly, a move that led to ongoing legal disputes.

The political rift between Fubara and Wike has destabilised governance in the oil-rich state since late 2023. 

The feud, primarily over control of the state’s political structure, saw both sides engage in intense battles for dominance. 

Fubara, seeking to assert his authority as the sitting governor, pushed back against Wike’s attempts to maintain control over the machinery he built during his eight-year tenure as governor.

The crisis led to multiple impeachment threats, the fracturing of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and a general state of political paralysis. 

Tinubu’s earlier efforts to mediate peace had failed, prompting a drastic intervention in March 2025.

On March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the protracted political impasse.