Dip Connect Online News reports that former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has said President Bola Tinubu will not sacrifice the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, despite the ongoing political crisis in the state.
Fayose made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television aired on Tuesday, while reacting to the power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, which has continued to fuel instability in Rivers State.
According to Fayose, Wike is more politically relevant to President Tinubu than Fubara, noting that the President has little reason to abandon the former Rivers governor.
“But let me say this to Nigerians, the Asiwaju that I know will not get rid of a Wike for a Fubara. Wike came from Rivers to give support to President Tinubu,” Fayose said.
He explained that Wike’s political value lies in his performance as FCT Minister and his ability to deliver electoral victories for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Wike is in Abuja performing; we’ve never had it so good in Abuja, even a blind man can’t deny that,” he stated.
“The local government elections in Rivers, APC won them courtesy of Wike. The coming local government elections in Abuja, APC will still win them. So, what else will the President want from Wike?” Fayose added.
His comments come amid the move by the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Fubara, with lawmakers accusing him of gross misconduct, including demolishing the assembly complex, engaging in extra-budgetary spending, and defying a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.
The crisis, which began in late 2023, stems from a power struggle between Wike and Fubara over control of Rivers State’s political structure, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) machinery and the State Assembly.
Although the Assembly has denied that the impeachment move was influenced by Wike, reports indicate that President Tinubu has intervened in the dispute.
Reacting to reports that Fubara sought Tinubu’s intervention—allegedly while the President was in France—Fayose said the move reflected political arrogance on the part of the Rivers governor.
“If Governor Fubara has gone to meet the President, then it shows he needs help. When you don’t praise God, when you refuse to humble yourself and look for peace, you’ll just be running helter-skelter. What he’s looking for is inside his pocket,” he said.
Fayose also addressed the internal crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, dismissing claims that President Tinubu was responsible for the party’s problems.
“The challenges in the PDP are not the fault of Asiwaju,” he said. “Failure in my home, God forbid, is not the fault of my neighbour.”
He described the PDP as a party weakened by internal divisions and self-inflicted conflicts, adding:
“The PDP caused themselves an insurrection. It’s a house that is divided against itself, and the nature of man is survival of the fittest.”
Elijah Adeyemi
