Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, and his successor, Nyesom Wike, to settle their differences and work together.

Jonathan spoke on Monday during the flag-off of Trans-Kalabari road in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers.

The former president said the political tension in the state owing to the feud between Wike and Fubara is not helpful.

He called on the two politicians to “ceasefire” and work together for the success of the state, adding that Rivers is the “heart” of the Niger Delta region.

The former president said issues involving the transition of power have been causing controversy in states, unlike at the federal level.

“The political tension in the state is becoming so much,” Jonathan said.

“In this state, Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara must work together for the development of the land and the people of Rivers state.

“The tension will not help us. Rivers state is very critical in this country. It is the heart of the Niger Delta.

“If Rivers state is destabilised, the whole Niger Delta will be destabilised.

“There is a common saying that when two elephants are fighting, the grass suffers. Both the governor and our ministers are young people and powerful.

“If they continue to fight, the Rivers people will suffer. We are calling them to embrace themselves.”

Since 2023, Fubara and Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), have been at loggerheads over political control of the state.

The rift has led to the polarisation of the Rivers state house of assembly.

The commissioners loyal to Wike have resigned from Fubara’s cabinet.

Recently, Wike apologised for backing Fubara to succeed him as governor, adding that he would correct that mistake in 2027.

Subsequently, Fubara said a judicial panel of inquiry would be set up to investigate the management of the state’s resources and affairs under past administrations.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has said the congress was not aware of merger talks involving the Labour Party with some political parties in the country.

The LP, which is a socio-democratic political party, was founded by the organised labour.

There have been speculations about the possibility of a merger between the LP and the Peoples Democratic Party, following the meeting between the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the presidential candidate of the PDP in the election, Atiku Abubakar.

Obi also reportedly met with some PDP stalwarts in Abuja, including a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.

In 2019, both Atiku and Obi ran on the PDP joint ticket but were defeated by former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

However, due to internal conflict within the PDP, Obi left the party in 2022 and contested the 2023 presidential election as the candidate of the Labour Party.

Speaking after the meeting with Obi on Monday, May 13, 2024, Atiku said party members would decide their fate in the 2027 general elections, adding that if the PDP decided in 2027 that it was the turn of the South-East to field the presidential candidate and selected Obi, he would readily offer his support.

The former vice president mentioned that his recent meeting with Obi might indicate a possible alliance leading up to the 2027 general elections.

When asked if the NLC would support merger talks that would make the LP cease to exist or if the organised labour would be involved in any merger talks involving the party, Ajaero said, “We are not aware of such talks.”

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has dismissed the planned alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

Speaking on Saturday, Onanuga said President Tinubu and his administration were not bothered by the politicking going on by Atiku and ‘his gang of desperadoes’.

He said, “We are only surprised that they are plotting just one year after an election they lost. They are still behaving like sore losers.

“We are not bothered by the games they are playing, as they are revealing their mindset. They are mere politicians who only think about the next election.

“President Tinubu is a true statesman who is concerned about fulfilling his promises to Nigerians.

“At the moment, he is very busy resetting the economy of our country for the better, laying the foundation that ought to have been laid decades ago.”

It would recalled that Atiku, on Friday, stated that if the PDP decided in 2027 that it was the South-East’s turn to field the presidential candidate and selected Obi, he would readily offer his support.

“I have said repeatedly, and I even said it before the 2023 general elections, that if the PDP decides to zone the presidential ticket to the South, or South-East specifically, I won’t contest it. As long as it’s the decision of the party, I will abide by it. I contested the 2023 presidential ticket, because it was thrown open to all members of the party.

“If the party decides that it’s the turn of the South-East, and Peter Obi is chosen, I won’t hesitate to support him,” Atiku declared in a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service.

He added that a merger between the PDP and LP was possible. Atiku stressed that party members would decide their fate in the 2027 general elections. The former Vice President mentioned that his recent meeting with Obi might indicate a possible alliance leading up to the 2027 general elections.