Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has thrown a political grenade into Nigeria’s already tense Rivers State crisis, declaring bluntly that President Bola Tinubu will not sacrifice Nyesom Wike for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Arise Television, Fayose dismissed speculation that the President might side with Fubara against the powerful Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. According to him, the political arithmetic is simple. Wike matters more.
In Fayose’s words, Tinubu is not the type of leader who trades political assets for liabilities. And in the Rivers power struggle, he believes Wike is the asset.
Wike’s Abuja Power and Why It Matters
Fayose argued that Wike’s grip on national relevance has only strengthened since becoming FCT minister. He praised Wike’s performance in Abuja, portraying him as a man delivering visible results and political victories.
According to SKYTREND NEWS reports, Fayose described Abuja under Wike as undergoing an unprecedented transformation, insisting that even critics cannot deny the changes.
He also credited Wike with the All Progressives Congress winning local government elections in Rivers State, a traditionally opposition stronghold. Fayose was emphatic that Wike’s political machinery remains potent and valuable to the ruling party.
From Fayose’s perspective, Tinubu has no incentive to weaken a man who delivers votes, loyalty, and visibility.
Fubara’s Move Seen as Political Weakness
Fayose was particularly scathing about reports that Governor Fubara sought President Tinubu’s intervention abroad. He framed the move not as strategy but as desperation.
According to Fayose, a governor who runs to the President for rescue has already admitted defeat. He accused Fubara of lacking humility and failing to pursue reconciliation early enough.
His remarks painted a picture of a governor scrambling for support while the real power sits elsewhere.
Rivers Crisis as a Lesson in Power Politics
The former Ekiti governor’s comments underscore the brutal reality of Nigerian politics, where loyalty, performance, and electoral value often outweigh sentiment or incumbency.
Fayose suggested that Wike’s decision to support Tinubu during the presidential election cemented his place in the inner circle of power. That support, he implied, is now paying dividends.
According to SKYTREND NEWS findings, insiders within political circles increasingly see the Rivers crisis as less about governance and more about who controls political structures ahead of future elections.
PDP’s Implosion and Fayose’s Blunt Verdict
Beyond Rivers, Fayose also addressed the deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party. He rejected claims that President Tinubu engineered the PDP’s troubles.
Instead, Fayose blamed internal divisions, ambition, and power struggles within the opposition party. He described the PDP as a house collapsing under its own weight, not one demolished by external enemies.
In his assessment, the Rivers crisis is a symptom of a larger sickness afflicting the PDP nationwide.
What This Means for Rivers and Beyond
Fayose’s remarks send a clear signal. In the high stakes game of Nigerian power politics, alliances matter more than titles. Governors can be isolated. Political enforcers rarely are.
For Rivers State, the implication is stark. The crisis may not be resolved by presidential intervention alone. It may instead be decided by political leverage, loyalty, and survival instincts.
Sixty days, six months, or six years from now, Fayose believes one thing is certain. Tinubu will not dump Wike.
