RIVERS POWER TUSSLE: TINUBU VALUES LOYALTY, HE WON’T DUMP WIKE FOR FUBARA, SAYS FAYOSE
Abuja, Nigeria — Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not abandon Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in favour of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, insisting that the President places a high premium on loyalty, political strength and influence.
Fayose’s Comments on Tinubu’s Political Calculus
Fayose made the remarks in an interview on ARISE News while discussing the prolonged power tussle between Wike and Fubara — two prominent figures in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose political fallout has continued to destabilise governance in Rivers State.
According to Fayose, “the Asiwaju that I know … will not get rid of a Wike for a Fubara,” arguing that Wike’s political loyalty and contributions to Tinubu’s political success make him indispensable to the president’s calculations.
He emphasised that Wike’s performance as FCT Minister and his ability to deliver electoral victories for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including in local government polls, enhance his value in Abuja politics.
Advice to Governor Fubara
Fayose urged Fubara to seek peace and reconciliation with Wike, stressing that the crisis could only be resolved through political intelligence and humility rather than confrontation.
He told Fubara to honour the existing agreements signed with Wike and avoid giving in to advisers encouraging political clashes, warning that internal party advisers might abandon him should impeachment proceedings succeed.
Drawing from his own political experience, Fayose said that loyalty and gratitude are crucial in Nigerian politics and that challenging Wike could have negative ramifications for Fubara’s political future.
Background: Rivers State Power Struggle
The political crisis in Rivers erupted after a rift between Wike and his former political protégé, Governor Fubara, over control of the state’s political structure and resources.
Despite several interventions by President Tinubu — including meetings aimed at reconciliation — tensions have persisted, with Wike accused of opposing Fubara’s re-election bid and Fubara facing impeachment proceedings initiated by lawmakers aligned with Wike.
The dispute has drawn national attention and deepened factional divides within the PDP, with both sides trading accusations of betrayal and political ambition.
Broader Political Implications
The Rivers crisis is widely seen as more than a state-level quarrel; it reflects deeper intra-party tensions within the PDP, the influence of political godfatherism, and the balancing act President Tinubu must perform in managing alliances across party lines. Fayose’s remarks underscore the belief that factors like loyalty, influence, and political leverage — rather than short-term tactical gains — are central to how political actors like Tinubu negotiate Nigeria’s complex political terrain.
Abuja, Nigeria — Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not abandon Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in favour of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, insisting that the President places a high premium on loyalty, political strength and influence.
Fayose’s Comments on Tinubu’s Political Calculus
Fayose made the remarks in an interview on ARISE News while discussing the prolonged power tussle between Wike and Fubara — two prominent figures in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whose political fallout has continued to destabilise governance in Rivers State.
According to Fayose, “the Asiwaju that I know … will not get rid of a Wike for a Fubara,” arguing that Wike’s political loyalty and contributions to Tinubu’s political success make him indispensable to the president’s calculations.
He emphasised that Wike’s performance as FCT Minister and his ability to deliver electoral victories for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), including in local government polls, enhance his value in Abuja politics.
Advice to Governor Fubara
Fayose urged Fubara to seek peace and reconciliation with Wike, stressing that the crisis could only be resolved through political intelligence and humility rather than confrontation.
He told Fubara to honour the existing agreements signed with Wike and avoid giving in to advisers encouraging political clashes, warning that internal party advisers might abandon him should impeachment proceedings succeed.
Drawing from his own political experience, Fayose said that loyalty and gratitude are crucial in Nigerian politics and that challenging Wike could have negative ramifications for Fubara’s political future.
Background: Rivers State Power Struggle
The political crisis in Rivers erupted after a rift between Wike and his former political protégé, Governor Fubara, over control of the state’s political structure and resources.
Despite several interventions by President Tinubu — including meetings aimed at reconciliation — tensions have persisted, with Wike accused of opposing Fubara’s re-election bid and Fubara facing impeachment proceedings initiated by lawmakers aligned with Wike.
The dispute has drawn national attention and deepened factional divides within the PDP, with both sides trading accusations of betrayal and political ambition.
Broader Political Implications
The Rivers crisis is widely seen as more than a state-level quarrel; it reflects deeper intra-party tensions within the PDP, the influence of political godfatherism, and the balancing act President Tinubu must perform in managing alliances across party lines. Fayose’s remarks underscore the belief that factors like loyalty, influence, and political leverage — rather than short-term tactical gains — are central to how political actors like Tinubu negotiate Nigeria’s complex political terrain.
