Fayose Urges Fubara to Recognize Wike as Political Leader

Former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has advised Gover­nor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to see the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nye­som Wike, as his leader, stressing that it was the former Rivers State governor who chose him above others to become the governor of the state.

Fayose, who spoke on Tuesday in an interview with Arise TV, maintains that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, is the only person that mat­ters in the African Democratic Party (ADC), stressing that if the coalition party fails to field Obi in 2027 presidential election, its case will be bad.

He maintained that the emer­gency rule saved Fubara from being removed as governor and stressed that he should show grat­itude to Wike by giving him every respect as a leader.

The former governor also warned that Tinubu would not trade Wike for Fubara and urged the governor to seek peace.

He said, “Who is Governor Fubara? I should respect him as my governor. I respect him as a governor. A governor goes before the people and prostates. I go to certain places, I prostrate. What does it take away from you? Even if Wike says he’s a leader, it’s not the mouth of Governor Fubara to be contesting that. You didn’t know about Fubara three years ago. You never heard of Fubara three years ago. I was supporting Austin Opara. I was Austin Opa­ra’s person. And I was sitting by Governor Wike to mull his opinion to support Austin Opara towards the time of the election, in the car, when I was asking who the candidate is? Governor Wike told me, “Fayose, I know where you belong and I’m not going that way. I’m going to Fubara” I never knew Fubara.”

On why he’s supporting President Bola Tinubu even as a Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chieftain, he said, “I’ve said it that I’ve always supported Tinubu even when I was a sitting governor. I was part of the G5 that supported him. I was one of those who told Governor Wike to sup­port Tinubu against Atiku who is not a promise keeper. He’ll come back for you when he wins the election. It’s better for us. By the grace of God, I was among the people who went to Port Harcourt with Fayemi, the late Akeredolu, Sanwo-Olu to consummate the re­lationship. There was no time that we admitted that it was our fault that caused the exodus. We must be honest. When you’re weak, tendencies are there for you to fall in front of the stronger side. The challenges in the PDP is not the fault of Asiwaju.”

Reacting to the concerns about Nigeria drifting into one party state, Fayose said, “Out of about eight governors that have defected have you seen a trace of oppression, suppression, like we’re saying, the money given to Governor Makinde, Oyo is a PDP state, it’s not APC state, so in what way was he suppressed? They had issues with their own party. And as governors, they were to survive at all costs. They took that path.

“It’s not their fault. There are two dominant parties at a given time. Are we saying the ADC is not dominant? Recently, Obi moved there, and I’ve said it, Obi is living life in the ADC.

“I’ve never said that others who are there are not human beings. I’m saying they’re likely spent forces. Let Obi not go to ADC, let Obi go to another par­ty, you’ll see the effect. Let’s say Obi is in Accord. Accord would become alive. I’m saying it, Obi is the only traction, Obi is the only meaning, Obi is the only factor, Obi is the only person in the ADC that matters. When Obi went to the Labour Party, the La­bour Party that would never have won elections, performed. I’m not saying Obi will win this election. I’m not saying Obi won’t win this election, but I’m telling you, if ADC fails to field Obi, their case will be worse than their coming together.”