Former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has said Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, remains more politically relevant to President Tinubu than Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, arguing that the President has little incentive to abandon the minister.
Fayose, who made the assertion during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, amid the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, said Tinubu will not sacrifice Wike for Fubara.
He was reacting to the power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, which has continued to fuel political instability in Rivers State.
“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 maintained that Wike’s political value to the President is tied to his performance as FCT minister and his capacity to deliver electoral victories for the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“Wike is in Abuja performing; we’ve never had it so good in Abuja, even a blind man can’t deny that,” he said.
“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 queried.
The comments follow commencement of proceeding by the Rivers State Assembly to impeach Governor Fubara.
The house accused the governor of gross misconduct, including demolishing the assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, and defying a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.
This comes even amid a protracted feud between Wike and Fubara, which has plunged Rivers State into instability since late 2023.
The crisis originated from a power struggle over 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 move was influenced by Wike, reports indicate that the president has intervened in the dispute.
Commenting on reports that Governor Fubara sought President Tinubu’s intervention over the crisis, Fayose suggested the move reflected political arrogance on the part of the Rivers governor.
“If Governor Fubara has gone to meet the President (in France), 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 spoke on the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, dismissing claims that President Tinubu was responsible for the party’s challenges.
“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 opposition party as one weakened by internal divisions and self-inflicted conflicts.
“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,” Fayose added.
