Tinubu meets Rivers governor, Ogoni leaders, key officials in Aso Villa
By Kunle Sanni
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting at the State House with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and a delegation of leaders from Ogoniland, comprising representatives from four Local Government Areas in the state.
The delegation, which arrived at the Council Chamber earlier in the day, was joined by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who arrived at the Villa around 2:45 pm.
Key members of Fubara’s delegation included prominent political and community leaders such as Senators Lee Maeba, Magnus Abe, Olaka Nwogu, Bennett Birabi, Barry Mpigi, Kenneth Kobani, Monsignor Pius Kii, Leedom Mitee, Victor Giadom, and Prof. B. Fakae.
Top federal officials in attendance included National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed; Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas; and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari.
President Bola Tinubu is currently in a closed-door meeting with the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and leaders of Ogoniland from four Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
Although Fubara and the Ogoni delegation arrived earlier at the Council Chamber of the State House, our correspondent observed the official vehicle of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, arriving at the Villa around 2:45 pm.
Fubara’s delegation includes Senators Lee Maeba, Magnus Abe, Olaka Nwogu, Victor Giadom, Kenneth Kobani, Monsignor Pius Kii, Leedom Mitee, Senators Bennett Birabi, Barry Mpigi, Kenneth Kobani, and Prof. B. Fakae, among others.
Also in attendance are the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed; Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari.
Although the agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed, it is believed to be connected to the Ogoni clean-up project and the potential resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
The Federal Government has previously raised concerns about the long suspension of oil exploration in Rivers State.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, has also expressed worry over the conflicts that halted oil exploration and exploitation by international oil companies in Ogoniland.
