Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has advised Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to pursue reconciliation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, warning that confrontation with a political benefactor rarely ends well.
Fayose spoke during an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, January 13, against the backdrop of Rivers State’s worsening political turmoil, driven by the bitter feud between Fubara and Wike.
He argued that many politicians rise through structures built by others and must understand the power dynamics that come with such support.
“My own position is always clear. Fubara, my governor, all of them, got their strength from other people.”
To underscore his point, Fayose pointed to Kogi State, where he said humility towards a predecessor has helped prevent a similar crisis.
“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.
He then recalled the counsel he said he once gave his own successor in Ekiti State, urging cooperation over retaliation.
“I told my governor, whatever governor Fayemi, what 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 say ill of him, cooperate with him, and he thanked me for such advice. If it were other people, they take advantage of the situation.”
Turning to Rivers, Fayose addressed the contest over who truly controls the state’s political structure, often described locally using the “001” label.
He argued that the title is separate from the constitutional office and cautioned Fubara against challenging Wike’s influence head-on.
“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 to the mouth of Fubara to be contesting that. We all know the truth,” he said.
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Fayose then appealed directly to the governor to end the standoff and make peace.
“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.”
He also dismissed claims of loyalty from some of the governor’s backers, warning that political crowds often disappear when trouble comes.
“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 argued that recent events should serve as a warning to Fubara, describing earlier developments as a narrow escape and urging the governor to learn quickly.
“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 concluded by urging Fubara to respect constitutional obligations and acknowledge political mentorship.
“Constitution is binding on you, binding on me and binding on Rivers people. That is the more reason why Governor Fubara, I’m saying it again, climb down from his high horse, 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.”
The comments came as the Rivers State House of Assembly commenced proceedings to impeach Governor Fubara.
The House accused Fubara of gross misconduct, citing allegations including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, and defiance of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.
The move follows a protracted feud between Wike and Fubara that has kept Rivers State politically unstable since late 2023, rooted in a struggle for control of the state’s political structure, including the Peoples Democratic Party apparatus and the State Assembly.
While the House has denied claims that the impeachment initiative was influenced by Wike, reports indicate that the President has intervened in the dispute.