A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has blamed the lingering Rivers State political crisis on what he described as Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s ingratitude and poor crisis management, insisting that President Bola Tinubu’s intervention was a ‘saving grace’ rather than a punishment. In this interview on Channels TV’ Politics Today’ monitored by David Lawani, the former governor dismissed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a non-existent political structure, accusing former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and Senator Aminu Tambuwal of destroying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through broken promises and internal betrayal
What is going on in the politics of Rivers State? If anyone is close to the FCT Minister, it is you. What are your thoughts on what is happening in Rivers State?
If there is such a conversation, it will remain personal between the FCT Minister and me. But if you are asking about my relationship with the FCT Minister, it is cordial. He is a fantastic gentleman, like everyone else. Drawing on my experience as a former governor who was impeached, later won the case at the Supreme Court, and returned to office after re-election, I have observations and views to share regarding the current situation in Rivers State. But recall that a beautiful girl, a lovely girl, that young lady has a father. All the people who love her and want to devour the girl, all the people who believe genuinely or seek whatever benefits, should remember that the young girl has a father. She has a background. Somebody trained that girl in school. Somebody nurtured her. Somebody educated her and made her presentable. That is the summary of how I see the relationship between the Governor of Rivers State and the FCT Minister. I have said it before. I supported Austin Okpara, an aspirant in Rivers State in 2023. I was supporting Austin Okpara, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. But one night, we were travelling from Abuja, and I was hiding that from Governor Wike. We were both seated in the back of the car. I was trying to read his mind and to see whether he was working with Austin. But before I could conclude my thoughts, he said, “I know where you are. I know your candidate. But I am not going with your candidate. I am going with Fubara.” And sincerely, I did not know Governor Fubara. I did not know him that much in the political circle. That dashed our expectations for Austin Okpara. So what I am saying, in effect, is to take it back: there was a father of a beautiful girl. There was the father of a charming young lady whom everybody wanted to talk to and get to know. Fubara is a lovely girl, and by all accounts, her father brought her up and brought her to the limelight. Let no Nigerian governor come and tell me they have no interest in a particular person when they are exiting office. What is happening in Rivers State is happening almost everywhere. It is the management of that crisis by the sitting governor that matters. In my home state, Ekiti, we cannot shy away from the fact that we also have crises. I am not an APC member, but I am a stakeholder in Ekiti. We are meeting today because the governor is managing that space very well. I remember telling the governor even this year that, whatever the relationship between you and Governor Fayemi, keep it loving and continue to tolerate all of us. My brother, the governor, is the custodian of power and leadership. He is supposed to accept everybody, including his benefactor. And also to the fact that he is the father of the beautiful bride that he is today. Without mincing words, we are talking about the governor of Rivers State. For somebody to help you in whichever way to become governor of Rivers State or Ekiti, ordinarily, I think we are indebted to such people. Most of what is happening in Rivers State cannot occur in Lagos State. They can never. Most recently, because Asiwaju was not part of the decision to remove the Speaker, we all saw what happened. Without Asiwaju speaking, the Speaker restored order. Ingratitude will create headaches for anyone who indulges in it. The emergency rule in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Fubara, the Deputy Governor, and the House of Assembly, I recall very well, was a saving grace for Governor Fubara. It was a win-win situation for him. Because the moment you are impeached, that is the end. You cannot contest again. We give all glory to God. I spoke with him at a time. Asiwaju did what he did to save his face. I had a similar issue during my second tenure. The House of Assembly I met was entirely APC. It was traumatic.
Do we remove the House of Assembly from Rivers?
No. Do we say they will not have a role in the House of Assembly? No.
Do we say they are not supposed to look at the budget? Are appointments supposed to be made without them?
When we are talking, we should be mindful. Forget who likes Wike. I am not saying he is a perfect person. I am not saying he is the best. But the question is, there is a body called the House of Assembly. Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, has not won one person, one person, out of the 26 or 27 members of the House, which shows that they are united. In a situation like that, having come back from suspension, he was supposed to retreat and manage the situation. You cannot have your life, investment, or support given to someone and then tell me I should die a political death. In the first place, some say that the President, Wike, should remove Wike. They are jokers. The President is not like you. He is not like those who make those assertions. The President hates ingratitude. A lot of problems would have happened to Governor Sanwo-Olu, but for the President’s magnanimity, they did not. This shows the President is not looking away from his state. Who does that?
Some will say there is hardly anyone in life who succeeds without attributing it to someone. Politically speaking, is what is happening in Rivers State not godfatherism taken too far?
In Lagos State, a Speaker was removed while he was abroad. Leadership is leadership. I have roots. I know where I came from. Somebody gave me an opportunity and a window. I say to you, the Asiwaju I know hates ingratitude. Everybody hates ingratitude.
What is it that Governor Fubara has done wrong this time around?
You have rules of engagement. The Constitution provides rules of engagement for every politician. It is when we step outside those rules that we begin to look for public sympathy. Let me tell you, I was removed as governor. I went into exile. When I came back for my second term, I was a better person. The return of Governor Fubara should make him a better person. If he made a mistake the first time, he is not supposed to go through that route the second time. Politics is a power game. Nobody serves politics à la carte. With all due respect, you are the one enjoying the office of governor of Rivers State. Can you imagine Wike not being the Minister of the FCT? He would have become history. Some people are saying it is about Asiwaju’s election. No. Asiwaju’s election will come first. Both Wike and Fubara, along with others, will work for Asiwaju. Two weeks later, an election will be held in Rivers State. Will Asiwaju now say, “Wike, don’t fight for your life?” Just sit down there and don’t fight for your life? We are all aware of their understanding with Asiwaju. Anybody defending the beautiful lady or Fubara should know that Asiwaju is still the leader of the party in Nigeria. With all due respect, I do not support Governor Fubara’s actions. Governor Fubara is enjoying the office of governor; let him calm down. Give little respect to your leader.
Don’t you think all of these issues are political in nature? What exactly are the sins of Governor Fubara?
I agree. Yes, they are political. We are politicians. We have expectations. That is why we chose to support certain people.
Is it lawful to make appointments without recourse to the House of Assembly as provided by the Constitution? Is it lawful to spend public money without recourse to the House of Assembly? Who does that?
As bad as it was in Ekiti, I avoided doing things that would go to the Assembly because I knew there would be consequences. We cannot disobey the court or the Constitution. Even if you are not working with Wike, let us pretend. This did not happen suddenly until the impeachment notice was served. There is a way to go about it. You can pretend and have peace for your state. I was not the same when I came back the second time. I looked for my enemies, perceived ones, and made friends with them. The governor should climb down from his high horse and remember that yesterday somebody stood up for him. I rode on somebody’s shoulders. Let him climb down from his horse. Nobody will tolerate that.
Would you say Wike should go home and stop doing politics? Who does that?
Interestingly, most of the lawmakers in Rivers State are united. They are not divided. They are cohesive. They are aware of the dynamics of politics and the rules of engagement. The moment you try to override them or sideline them, you create tension. Politics is not a one-person show. It is a collective engagement, a dance of checks and balances. The Governor must understand that, while he holds the office, the House is the constitutional body that represents the people, and its role cannot be ignored or trivialised. I have always said that power, without gratitude and respect for those who helped you, becomes a dangerous weapon. We saw what happened in my state when I underestimated my allies or disregarded the structures. I do not want to see the exact repeat elsewhere. Rivers State should be a lesson. Governor Fubara should remember that he occupies the office because someone stood up for him, because of a network of support, and because of relationships nurtured over the years. If he loses sight of that, he risks not just political friction but also the erosion of the very support that placed him where he is. The Constitution provides for the House, for checks and balances, for engagements, appointments, and budget approvals. Circumventing that will never end well. Some people may say, “He is the governor; he can do as he pleases.” That is a naive understanding of leadership. Leadership is about collaboration, consultation, and respect. Even the President does not operate alone; Asiwaju operates with advisers, structures, and networks. No man can survive in political space on his own. The more isolated you become, the more vulnerable you are. I want to be very clear: this is not about partisanship. This is about political wisdom. It is about understanding that the office is a trust, not just a prize. It is about understanding that those who helped you up, mentored you, and supported you must never feel sidelined or undermined. I have seen governors’ burn bridges because of ego, arrogance, or impatience. And the irony is that many of them are convinced they are untouchable, only to find themselves politically stranded. Rivers State is teetering on the edge of that same reality. The Governor should take a step back, assess, and recognise that the emergency rule and suspensions may have provided a reprieve. Still, long-term stability requires humility, respect, and strategic collaboration. Politics is a marathon, not a sprint. The ones who survive are not necessarily the most aggressive or assertive, but those who are patient, who respect processes, and who understand human dynamics. If Governor Fubara can internalise that, Rivers State will be stronger. If not, the crisis could escalate unnecessarily. Remember, the beauty of leadership is in building alliances, nurturing loyalty, and understanding that no one, not even a governor, operates in isolation. Every office comes with a network, a web of relationships, and a history. Forgetting that is perilous. So, my advice to Rivers State leaders, especially Governor Fubara, is this: pause, reflect, respect the House, respect those who put you there, and understand that leadership is not just about power; it is about legacy. How you manage today will define your political future tomorrow. Act with wisdom, not hubris. The political landscape is unforgiving to those who forget their roots and the people who lifted them.
What’s your conclusion on this matter?
In conclusion, I must emphasise: Rivers State is a microcosm of Nigerian politics. Everywhere you see power, ambition, and expectation, you also see the consequences of ingratitude, arrogance, and disregard for structures. Let this be a lesson. Leadership is a trust, politics is a game of respect, and nobody, not even the most potent governor, is above the rules of engagement or the people who helped shape their journey.
