Why Tinubu Won’t Sack Wike for Fubara – Fayose Declares Amid Rivers Crisis

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has stated that President Bola Tinubu will not abandon the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to please the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Fayose shared these views during a television interview on Tuesday, where he analyzed the ongoing power struggle in Rivers State.

He argued that Wike’s political importance to the President far outweighs any benefit from supporting Fubara.

Fayose emphasized that the President is unlikely to discard a strategic ally who delivered electoral success in Rivers State.

According to him, Wike’s track record as a minister and his ability to secure victories for the All Progressives Congress (APC) make him an indispensable asset to the presidency.

Fayose noted that Wike’s performance in Abuja is visible to all, which strengthens his standing with the President.

“But let me say this to Nigerians, the Asiwaju that I know will not get rid of a Wike for a Fubara. Wike came from Rivers to give support to President Tinubu,” Fayose stated.

He further questioned what more the President could demand from Wike, given his influence. “Wike is in Abuja performing; we’ve never had it so good in Abuja, even a blind man can’t deny that,” he remarked.

Fayose also credited Wike with the APC’s success in recent local government polls and predicted similar outcomes for upcoming elections in the FCT.

Addressing the move by the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Fubara, Fayose suggested that the Governor’s current predicament stems from a lack of humility.

He criticized Fubara for seeking presidential intervention only after the crisis had escalated.

The Assembly has accused the Governor of various infractions, including extra-budgetary spending and the demolition of the legislative complex.

“If Governor Fubara has gone to meet the President (in France), then it shows he needs help. 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,” Fayose added.

The former governor also touched on the internal friction within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He dismissed claims that President Tinubu is the architect of the PDP’s woes, describing the party’s troubles as self-inflicted.

“The challenges in the PDP are not the fault of Asiwaju,” he said. “Failure in my home, God forbid, is not the fault of my neighbour.”

He concluded by characterizing the PDP as a house divided, suffering from an internal “insurrection” caused by its own members.

Recall that the Rivers State House of Assembly’s formal commencement of impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara.

The lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, served the notice citing “gross misconduct” and administrative violations, marking the third attempt to remove the governor since the feud with Nyesom Wike began in late 2023.