Fayose Offers Lasting Solution to Fubara-Wike Political Fued

According to report by The Nation on Thursday, January 22, 2026, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has weighed in on the lingering political crisis in Rivers State, offering his thoughts on how the rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, can be resolved.

He recalled advising Governor Fubara during a private meeting to remain cautious and avoid being influenced by people who might sow discord between him and his political benefactor.

According to Fayose, Fubara owed his emergence as governor largely to Wike’s support and should therefore protect that relationship rather than allow external forces to damage it.

Drawing from his own experience in office, Fayose explained that youthful confidence and early excitement in power can easily lead to mistakes if not guided by wisdom. He likened political leadership to a journey that requires patience, humility and strategic management of relationships.

Peace, he said, is always cheaper than conflict, warning that prolonged battles with powerful political structures, especially a state assembly, could have grave consequences.

He noted how he had to carefully navigate a hostile legislature during his first term as governor to avoid being removed from office.

Fayose dismissed suggestions that Wike should withdraw completely from Rivers politics, arguing that political influence does not disappear simply because one leaves office.

Using examples from Ekiti and Kogi states, he stressed that successful leaders often show gratitude and humility toward those who helped them rise.

He maintained that former leaders retain relevance and should be accorded respect, just as he himself continues to command influence in Ekiti despite being out of office.

On the question of party leadership in Rivers, Fayose acknowledged that while the sitting governor is the constitutional head of government, Wike remains the political force that brought Fubara to prominence.

He described it as unwise for Fubara to contest that reality openly, advising him instead to manage the situation diplomatically.

Fayose emphasized that political power is built on alliances and structures, and that a leader must recognize the roles others played in his emergence.

He further urged Fubara to embrace reconciliation, warning that those encouraging confrontation would likely abandon him in difficult times.

Fayose also expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s dislike for ingratitude, citing past instances where the President had intervened to restore political balance.

In his view, the Rivers crisis can only be resolved through humility, respect for established structures, and a genuine effort by the governor to mend fences, rather than by engaging in open confrontation.