By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not abandon the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the lingering political crisis in the oil-rich state.
Fayose, a former ally of Wike and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the assertion while speaking on a Television Morning Show on ARISE News on Tuesday.
According to Fayose, President Tinubu’s political calculations and long-standing relationship with Wike make it unrealistic for anyone to expect the President to side with Governor Fubara against the former Rivers governor.
“Let me be clear: Tinubu will never sacrifice Wike for Fubara. Wike is a key political ally of the President, someone who stood by him when it mattered most. Politics is about interests, loyalty and structure, not sentiments,” Fayose argues.
The former Ekiti governor stressed that Wike’s role in the emergence of Tinubu as President in the 2023 general election remains significant and cannot be overlooked, especially given Wike’s decision to work against his own party’s presidential candidate at the time.
Fayose also described Wike as a politician with strong influence, resources and political machinery, noting that such factors make him a valuable asset to the current administration.
“Wike is not just a minister; he is a political force. You don’t discard someone like that because of a disagreement at the state level. Tinubu understands power and political balance very well,” Fayose said.
The Rivers State crisis escalated shortly after Governor Fubara assumed office, following disagreements between him and his predecessor over control of the state’s political structure and the House of Assembly. The dispute led to a dramatic split in the Assembly, impeachment threats, and heightened political tension across the state.
Despite interventions by President Tinubu, including meetings with key stakeholders and directives aimed at restoring calm, the crisis has persisted, with both camps trading accusations and counter-accusations.
Fayose, however, advised Governor Fubara to be strategic and cautious in navigating the situation, warning that confronting Wike head-on may not yield favourable results.
“If I were Fubara, I would tread carefully. This is not a fight you win by muscle or emotions. You win it with wisdom, patience and political intelligence,” he said.
He also faulted those encouraging the Rivers governor to openly challenge Wike, describing such advice as misleading and potentially dangerous to Fubara’s political future.
“People pushing Fubara to fight Wike are not his friends. They are setting him up. At the end of the day, everyone will protect their own interests,” Fayose insists.
The former governor further cautioned that prolonged political instability in Rivers State could have negative implications for governance and development, urging all parties to prioritise peace and dialogue.
“The people of Rivers State deserve stability and good governance,” Fayose said. “This crisis is not helping anyone. It is only distracting the government from delivering dividends of democracy.”
