Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), claims to have reconciled with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking on Thursday night, Mr Wike was a guest on Politics Today on Channels TV.
Less than six months after Mr Fubara took office as governor, Messrs. Wike and Fubara have been engaged in a protracted battle over control of Rivers State’s political institutions.
The state legislature was later divided into two parts as a result of the rivalry, with three lawmakers loyal to Mr Fubara and 27 to Mr Wike.
President Bola Tinubu imposed a six-month emergency rule on March 18 as a result of the disagreement.
Mr Tinubu suspended the state lawmakers, the Governor, and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
Before declaring the emergency rule to be lifted on Wednesday, following the six months, the president mediated a new truce between Messrs. Wike and Fubara in June.
After the emergency rule ended, the Governor and all other elected officials were urged to return to their responsibilities on Thursday.
ALSO READ: Rivers crisis: Tinubu reunites Wike, Fubara, lawmakers
Mr Wike stated during the broadcast that he now communicates with Mr Fubara and that the South-South state is once again at peace.
“As I speak to you, as of yesterday (Wednesday), I spoke to the governor (Fubara). I told him I was leaving that night to come back, and he told me he was leaving this morning.
“So, I can tell you that, by the grace of God, peace has returned,” he said.
Suen Okinbaloye, the programme anchor, asked the FCT minister if he had now forgiven Mr Fubara.
“I have already said that we’ve been speaking. I will not engage with a man (Fubara) I have not forgiven. Everything is over. I am not a politician who says one thing today and another tomorrow. We must move forward,” Mr Wike responded.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara failed to resume on Thursday despite his reinstatement by President Tinubu.
Many of his supporters who had gathered at the Government House to welcome Mr Fubara reportedly went home disappointed because the governor did not show up.
But Mr Wike, at the programme, defended Fubara’s failure to resume after the reinstatement.
“There is no law that says he (Fubara) must resume work today (Thursday). He is the governor, I don’t understand the way we operate.
“I was sworn in today as the governor for example does not mean I will go to the office tomorrow,” he said.
“You don’t know what my programmes are, you don’t know what the governor has scheduled to do.”
