Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has expressed support for Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, amid his ongoing political rivalry with his former political protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Fayose also asserted that President Bola Tinubu wields significant influence over Lagos State, describing it as being “from the palm of his hands.”
The ex-governor made these remarks during an exclusive interview with Arise Television on Tuesday, the 13th of January, 2026, in which he questioned the leadership claims of the current Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the state’s political landscape.
He said: “My wife can tell me I’ve said sorry to you. How many times will I say sorry to you. There is a remorse, and there is what we call in Yoruba ‘I’m saying it just for me to have peace, not because I want to show remorse.”
Fayose further reflected on political loyalty, saying:
“Listen my brother, those people leading on Governor Fubara, if Governor Fubara goes down today, they will run away.
“People that were saying I should fight back those days, they were not there when I was isolated and when I was alone. That’s all I will say to you.”
On the role of the presidency in Lagos politics, Fayose emphasised: “The current situation, the President himself that I know hates ingratitude. The President that I know controls Lagos from the palms of his hands.
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“The governor that I know, for instance, the speaker was removed, impeached, another sitting, somebody else took over in Lagos state. The president, without saying a word, caused the system to restore that Speaker, because it’s an affront to the President. who is the leader.
“Will you tell me Sanwo-Olu is the leader of Lagos. Let him announce it. Let us hear him. Let Governor Sanwo-Olu come out and say, I’m the leader of Lagos.
“You see, there’s certain things that are said to cause aesthetics. Don’t let it get into your head.”
Through his comments, Fayose highlighted his backing of Wike while casting doubt on Sanwo-Olu’s claim to leadership within Lagos State, reinforcing his long-standing perspective on political loyalty and the influence of the presidency.