Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has declared that President Bola Tinubu will not sacrifice Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as the political crisis in Rivers continues to escalate.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Arise Television, Fayose said Wike remains far more politically valuable to Tinubu than his estranged successor, insisting the President has little reason to abandon the former Rivers governor amid the ongoing power struggle in the oil-rich state.
Fayose: Wike Is Too Valuable to Tinubu
According to Fayose, Wike’s political relevance, performance in Abuja, and electoral influence make him indispensable to the Tinubu administration.
“But let me say this to Nigerians, the Asiwaju that I know will not get rid of a Wike for a Fubara,” Fayose said.
“Wike came from Rivers to give support to President Tinubu.”
Fayose argued that beyond loyalty, Wike has delivered tangible political results for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite being a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
‘Wike Is Performing in Abuja’
The former Ekiti governor praised Wike’s tenure as FCT minister, describing it as one of the most visible and impactful in recent years.
“Wike is in Abuja performing. We’ve never had it so good in Abuja. Even a blind man can’t deny that,” Fayose said.
He also credited Wike for APC’s grassroots success in Rivers State, particularly at the local government level.
“The local government in Rivers, APC won them courtesy of Wike. The coming local government in Abuja, APC will still win it,” he added.
“So what else will the President want from Wike?”
Fayose Slams Fubara Over Alleged Appeal to Tinubu
Commenting on reports that Governor Siminalayi Fubara sought President Tinubu’s intervention in the Rivers crisis during a recent trip to France, Fayose suggested the move exposed political weakness rather than strength.
“If Governor Fubara has gone to meet the President, then it shows he needs help,” Fayose said.
“When you don’t praise God, when you refuse to humble yourself and look for peace, you’ll just be running helter-skelter. What he’s looking for is inside his pocket.”
PDP Crisis Is Self-Inflicted, Fayose Says
Fayose also dismissed claims that President Tinubu is responsible for the deepening internal crisis within the PDP, describing the party’s troubles as self-inflicted.
“The challenges in the PDP is not the fault of Asiwaju,” he said.
“Failure in my home, God forbid, is not the fault of my neighbour.”
He described the opposition party as deeply divided and driven by survival politics.
Also Read: Nobody Can Push Us Out: Wike Claims Full Control of Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign in Rivers
“The PDP caused themselves an insurrection. It’s a house divided against itself, and the nature of man is survival of the fittest,” Fayose added.
