Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has asked Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reconcile with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike rather than engage in political conflict.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Fayose stated, “My own position is always clear. Fubara, my governor, and all of them got their strength from other people.”
He made the remarks while discussing the ongoing power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which is causing political instability in Rivers State.
Fayose emphasized the necessity of humility and reconciliation in governance, using examples from other states.
“Look at Kogi. Why are we not having issues in Kogi? Why is Governor Kogi being very humble? Whatever you say about Yahaya Bello, he doesn’t want to hear it. Whatever anybody comes to say to him about Yahaya, he remembered the day Yahaya Bello gave him that platform,” he said.
Recalling advice he gave to his successor in Ekiti, Fayose said, “I told my governor, whatever governor Fayemi, whatever I’ve done to you, or whatever way you feel, don’t worry about that. Remember the day he gave you that platform. Don’t speak ill of him, cooperate with him, and he thanked me for such advice. If it were other people, they would take advantage of the situation.”
Fayose also spoke on the title of “001” in Rivers politics, warning Fubara against challenging Wike’s authority.
“There’s a difference between the office and 001. What brought about the 001? Who gave you the platform to call yourself the 001? It is a sad narrative for Governor Fubara to be struggling. Rather, he should manage the situation.
“Even if Wike is saying he is the leader, it is not for the mouth of Fubara to be contesting that. We all know the truth,” he said.
The former Ekiti governor appealed directly to Fubara to seek peace and reconciliation. “Let me tell you again. I want to advise Governor Fubara again. Please, Governor Fubara, I’m begging you, go and make amends and be at peace.”
Speaking on claims that Fubara had already apologized to Wike, Fayose distinguished between genuine remorse and apologies made merely to calm tensions.
“Those people leading on Governor Fubara, if Governor Fubara goes down today, they will run away. People who were saying I should fight back those days, they were not there when I was isolated and when I was alone,” he said.
Fayose also stated that Fubara must learn from past political lessons.
“The emergency rule was all-winning for Governor Fubara. By now, Governor Fubara would have been history because the moment you are impeached, you’re out of the way. You can’t contest. If you read the context of President Tinubu, he took the governor, Governor Fubara, to the cleaners. It is time for Governor Fubara to learn. Learn the way I learned my lesson after my first tenor,” he said.
He urged Fubara to respect both constitutional obligations and political mentorship. “The constitution is binding on you, binding on me, and binding on Rivers people. That is more reason why Governor Fubara, I’m saying it again, should climb down from his high horse and look for his brother, his leader, the man who was thoughtful enough to say, “Among all you brides, I will marry you. Come to the office of the governor.”
