Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has declared that President Bola Tinubu is unlikely to abandon the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in favour of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as the political crisis in Rivers State deepens.
Fayose made the statement during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, where he weighed in on the ongoing power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, which has continued to destabilise the state’s political landscape.
According to Fayose, Wike remains far more politically valuable to President Tinubu than the incumbent Rivers governor, stressing that the President has little reason to sacrifice a loyal ally for someone he considers less influential.
“Let me say this clearly to Nigerians: the Asiwaju that I know will not get rid of a Wike for a Fubara. Wike came all the way from Rivers to support President Tinubu,” Fayose said.
He argued that Wike’s relevance to the President goes beyond loyalty, pointing to his performance as FCT minister and his political strength within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Wike is in Abuja performing. We’ve never had it this good in Abuja, and even a blind man cannot deny that,” Fayose added.
Fayose further credited Wike with helping the APC secure victories during recent local government elections in Rivers State, noting that similar outcomes are expected in forthcoming polls in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The APC won the Rivers local government elections because of Wike. The coming local government elections in Abuja will also be won by APC. So what else does the President want from Wike?” he queried.
His comments come amid moves by the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Fubara. The lawmakers have accused the governor of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, spending outside approved budgets, and allegedly defying a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.
Although the Assembly has denied claims that Wike influenced the impeachment process, reports suggest that President Tinubu has stepped in to mediate between the feuding camps.
Reacting to reports that Governor Fubara sought the President’s intervention during a meeting abroad, Fayose described the move as a sign of political arrogance and poor judgement.
“If Governor Fubara has gone to meet the President, then it means he needs help. When you refuse to humble yourself and seek peace, you’ll be running helter-skelter. What he’s looking for is inside his own pocket,” Fayose said.
The former governor also addressed the ongoing internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissing claims that President Tinubu was responsible for the party’s troubles.
“The problems in PDP are not caused by Asiwaju. If there is failure in my house, God forbid, it is not my neighbour’s fault,” he stated.
Fayose described the opposition party as deeply divided and weakened by internal conflicts, adding that its challenges were self-inflicted.
“The PDP created an insurrection for itself. It is a house divided against itself, and in politics, it is survival of the fittest,” he concluded.
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