Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has expressed surprise over the worsening feud between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, warning that the governor must tread carefully as the crisis deepens.
Fayose, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, recalled being present at Fubara’s inauguration and advising the new governor against breaking ranks with his predecessor.
“I never imagined such a development would occur between Governor Fubara and Wike,” Fayose said.
“I was on the high table the day Fubara was sworn in. I told Wike, let me caution him not to betray you,” he added, lamenting the collapse of what had once been a tight political partnership.
The former governor’s comments come amid renewed hostilities in the state, despite earlier reconciliation led by President Bola Tinubu.
Presidency insiders confirmed that Tinubu has again stepped into the matter, summoning Wike for talks expected to take place outside the country.
Governor Fubara was also said to have departed Nigeria on Thursday aboard a private jet, reportedly for a scheduled meeting with the President in
France.
Fresh tension erupted on Thursday after the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Wike, reopened impeachment moves against Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
At the plenary presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, Majority Leader Major Jack read a notice listing seven allegations of gross misconduct.
The claims include demolition of the Assembly complex, unauthorised expenditure, withholding statutory funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission and alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.
The Assembly’s move followed Wike’s accusation that Fubara reneged on the peace pact midwifed by Tinubu in December 2023 an agreement that saw the governor concede political appointments to Wike’s loyalists.
That settlement later buckled, prompting worsening tensions that culminated in Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, 2025, suspending Fubara’s executive powers for six months.
Retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, was installed as sole administrator for the period.
Fayose reaffirmed his support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential race, clarifying that he acted openly and without subterfuge.
“I supported Asiwaju Tinubu in 2023 and I didn’t hide it. I am still with him.
But I am not a member of the APC and will never be,” he maintained.