In a recent television appearance, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose launched a sharp critique against Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, questioning his recent declaration as the political leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Fayose's Lagos Analogy: Governors vs. National Power Brokers
Fayose, speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, drew a direct comparison to the political landscape in Lagos State. He argued that holding the office of governor does not automatically confer ultimate political leadership, especially when a dominant national figure is present.
He used President Bola Tinubu's enduring influence in Lagos as a prime example. "The president that I know hates ingratitude. He controls Lagos from the palms of his hands," Fayose stated. He referenced the recent impeachment and subsequent reinstatement of the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker as clear proof of Tinubu's overriding authority.
"Will you tell me Sanwo-Olu is the leader in Lagos? Let him come out and say he is the leader. Some things are said for aesthetics. Don't let it get to your head," Fayose cautioned, directly addressing Fubara's similar claim in Rivers.
Emergency Rule as a Political Lifeline for Fubara
Fayose also offered a stark assessment of the recent declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State. He described it not as a setback, but as a political lifeline that saved Governor Fubara from imminent impeachment.
"The emergency rule was a win-win situation for Governor Fubara. By now, he would have been history. Once you are impeached, you are out and cannot contest again," Fayose explained. He suggested that President Tinubu's intervention provided Fubara with a crucial opportunity for political reflection and learning.
"If you read Tinubu's political history, he took Governor Fubara to the cleaners. It is time for Fubara to learn, the way I learnt after my first tenure," Fayose added, referencing his own experience after his first term as Ekiti governor.
Ongoing Rivers Crisis and Fubara's Defection
Fayose's comments come amid a prolonged and intense political standoff between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The conflict centres on control of Rivers State's political structure and machinery.
In a significant move in December 2025, Governor Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. During the flag-off of the Rivers Airport Bypass Project on December 12, he publicly pledged loyalty to the ruling party and President Tinubu, boldly declaring himself "number one" in the APC within the state.
Wike swiftly dismissed this claim, insisting that APC leadership is not determined by such numbering. "There is nothing like 001 in the state. You register in your ward and local government. Leadership is not by position but by influence," Wike countered.
Meanwhile, despite earlier moves by lawmakers loyal to Wike, Governor Fubara is yet to receive any formal impeachment notice. Reports indicate that two legislators withdrew from the plot, urging colleagues to seek peaceful resolution. The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has also stepped in with a reconciliation committee, stressing the urgent need to restore stability in the oil-rich state.
