Fayose: Tinubu’s Loyalty to Wike Outweighs Fubara’s Governance

The political atmosphere in Rivers State has reached a fever pitch following recent impeachment proceedings, prompting a sharp analysis from former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose. Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show this Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Fayose delivered a blunt assessment of the power dynamic between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. According to the veteran politician, President Bola Tinubu has no intention of sacrificing a high-performing “asset” like Wike to satisfy the political survival of Fubara.

Fayose’s comments come at a critical juncture for Rivers State, which has seen its legislature formally commence a fresh impeachment process against the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu. The House, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, has leveled seven grave allegations against the executive, including the demolition of the Assembly complex and unauthorized extra-budgetary spending exceeding N800 billion. For Fayose, these developments are a symptom of a deeper failure by Fubara to navigate the treacherous waters of political mentorship and gratitude.

The former governor argued that Wike’s value to the Presidency is twofold: administrative excellence and electoral potency. Fayose pointed to the visible transformation of Abuja under Wike’s tenure as Minister, stating that even a “blind man” could see the progress. He further emphasized that Wike’s ability to deliver grassroots victories for the All Progressives Congress, as evidenced by the party’s performance in recent local government polls in Rivers, makes him an indispensable ally for the President’s 2027 ambitions. “What else will the President want from Wike?” Fayose queried, suggesting that Fubara’s political relevance pales in comparison.

Addressing the reported move by Governor Fubara to seek President Tinubu’s intervention during the latter’s brief stay in France, Fayose described the act as a belated admission of vulnerability. He suggested that Fubara’s current “helter-skelter” approach is the result of what he termed “political arrogance” and a refusal to humble himself before the forces that provided him the platform. Drawing a parallel to Lagos State, Fayose noted that even Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu understands that the ultimate political authority rests with the President, a lesson he believes Fubara has failed to learn.

The interview also touched on the internal hemorrhaging of the Peoples Democratic Party. Fayose dismissed the narrative that the President is the architect of the PDP’s woes, describing the party as a “house divided against itself.” He maintained that the crisis in Rivers is a localized version of this broader instability, where the nature of man has reverted to the “survival of the fittest.” He cautioned Fubara that the state of emergency declared in March 2025 was a “saving grace” that the governor should have used to reconcile rather than reignite hostilities.

Fayose’s intervention serves as a stark warning to the Rivers State executive as the 10th Assembly moves toward a final vote on the impeachment notice. With the House recently barring the governor from presenting the 2026 budget until the probe is concluded, the administrative paralysis in the oil-rich state has deepened. Fayose’s position is clear: in the cold calculus of Nigerian politics, loyalty and performance often outweigh the formal titles of office. He urged Fubara to stop looking for solutions in foreign capitals and instead find them in the “pockets” of local reconciliation.

As the political drama continues to unfold, the nation watches to see if the Pan-Niger Delta Forum’s newly inaugurated peace committee can broker a truce before the constitutional clock runs out for the governor. However, if Fayose’s reading of the President’s mind is accurate, the “Rainbow Coalition” under Wike’s influence appears to be the preferred vehicle for the Presidency in Rivers. For Fubara, the path to survival may require a level of retreat that his camp has so far been unwilling to consider.