Fayose Tells Fubara to Drop Confrontation, Seek Peace With Wike

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has urged Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to abandon political confrontation and reconcile with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, warning that prolonged conflict could further destabilise the state.
Speaking during an interview Fayose said political leaders often rise to power through the support and influence of others, stressing that such realities should inspire humility rather than rivalry. According to him, Governor Fubara should prioritise managing the political situation in Rivers State instead of engaging in a power tussle with his predecessor.
Fayose, who weighed in on the lingering crisis between Fubara and Wike, said the ongoing struggle has become a sad development, noting that it was avoidable. He explained that there is a clear distinction between occupying an office and the political journey that brings one into that position.
“There is a difference between the office and being called ‘001’. What gave you that status in the first place? Who provided the platform?” Fayose asked. “It is unfortunate for a sitting governor to be struggling this way. Rather than fight, he should manage the situation.”
The former governor argued that even if Wike considers himself the political leader in Rivers State, it is not in Fubara’s place to openly challenge that claim. He insisted that political realities are often known to all parties involved and should be handled with tact.
Fayose called directly on Fubara to embrace peace, urging him to make genuine efforts at reconciliation. “Let me advise Governor Fubara again. Please, go and make amends and be at peace,” he said.
Addressing reports that Fubara had already apologised to Wike, Fayose suggested that not all apologies carry the same weight. He drew a line between sincere remorse and gestures made simply to calm public tension, warning that insincere reconciliation efforts rarely produce lasting peace.
He also cautioned the governor about relying on political allies who encourage confrontation. Fayose recalled his own experience in office, noting that many who urged him to fight political battles were absent when he later faced isolation.
“Those pushing Governor Fubara today, if he falls tomorrow, they will disappear,” Fayose said. “When I was alone and isolated, the same people who told me to fight were nowhere to be found.”
Fayose further advised Fubara to learn from political history and recent developments, pointing out that the situation could have ended far worse for the Rivers governor. He suggested that decisive interventions at the national level had, for now, worked in Fubara’s favour.
According to him, impeachment would have effectively ended Fubara’s political career, as removal from office would bar him from contesting again. Fayose urged the governor to reflect deeply and learn from past lessons, just as he claimed to have done after his first term in office.
He concluded by emphasising the need for respect for both constitutional authority and political mentorship. Fayose appealed to Fubara to humble himself, seek dialogue, and restore calm in the state.
“The Constitution is binding on everyone — on you, on me, and on the people of Rivers State,” he said. “That is why I am saying again: Governor Fubara should climb down from his high horse and reach out to his brother and leader, the man who gave him the opportunity to occupy the office of governor.”
Meanwhile, impeachment proceedings have been initiated against Governor Fubara by the Rivers State House of Assembly. The lawmakers have accused him of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary spending, and disobedience to a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.
The impeachment move comes amid a prolonged political feud between Fubara and Wike, a crisis that has unsettled Rivers State since late 2023. The dispute is believed to revolve around control of the state’s political structure, including the ruling party’s machinery and the House of Assembly.
Although the Assembly has denied that the impeachment process is being driven by external influence, reports indicate that the Presidency has stepped in to mediate as tensions continue to rise.