Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose said he was surprised by the political rift between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking in a televised interview on Thursday, Fayose described the fallout as unfortunate and said it should never have escalated to the current level of political tension in the state.
“I never expected that Governor Fubara and Minister Wike would go this far,” Fayose said. “The situation is avoidable. I know Wike very well, and I thought their bond was strong enough to withstand pressure.”
The crisis in Rivers began months after Fubara took office, following disagreements with lawmakers and Wike’s loyalists. Several members of the state assembly defected, and impeachment moves were initiated before President Bola Tinubu intervened in December.
Fayose praised Tinubu’s peace efforts but warned that resolving the crisis requires commitment from both sides. “The president has done well to step in, but only the parties involved can truly settle this,” he said.
He advised Fubara to remain focused on governance and urged Wike to act as a mentor rather than a rival. “You cannot fight your political child and win in the court of public opinion,” Fayose said.
The political tension in Rivers continues to draw national attention, as both camps remain divided despite repeated peace calls. The conflict threatens to destabilize governance in one of Nigeria’s most economically vital states.
