Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has weighed into the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, insisting that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remains a dominant force in the state’s politics and cannot be sidelined.
Speaking during a media interaction on Monday, Fayose argued that attempts to politically isolate Wike would be futile, stressing that political influence is built over time through loyalty, relationships, and performance.
“Even God himself hates ingratitude. You can’t sack Wike from Rivers politics, you can’t sack me from Ekiti politics,” Fayose said. “Politics is not played on social media alone. It is about structure, people, and long-standing relationships.”
Fayose also commented on the position of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, noting that the governor’s emergence and political strength were not solely self-made.
“Governor Sim Fubara got his strength from other people,” he said, in an apparent reference to the political machinery and alliances that supported Fubara’s rise to office.
The outspoken former governor warned against underestimating political godfathers, noting that experience and grassroots connections often outweigh momentary popularity or public sentiment.
Fayose’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Wike and the Rivers State government, a crisis that has continued to generate debate within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Nigeria’s wider political space.
Observers say Fayose’s intervention underscores deep divisions within the party, while also highlighting the enduring influence of former governors in shaping political outcomes at the state level.
