Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has described the ongoing political feud between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike as a spiritual battle, insisting his 2023 warning to Fubara has proven prophetic.
In an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday monitored by Truth Live News, Fayose recounted his remarks at events surrounding Fubara’s inauguration in 2023, where he cautioned the new governor against confronting his predecessor.
Fayose said, “The glory of God, I came back like you said in 2014. Now, let me take you back to when Governor Fubara became governor. They had a dinner for him and I was at his swearing-in ceremony.
“Then we went for Governor Wike’s lunch to say goodbye, Wike as governor. And we went for Governor Fubara’s dinner to say welcome, Mr. Governor.
“You recall that I came out, I had a short speech, but before that short speech, I told Governor Wike, it is important to reinforce certain things to the earnings of Governor Fubara.
“Going by the trend of ingratitude, betrayal of trust, people forgetting so soon. He said no, Fubara cannot do that. Don’t worry, don’t say nothing. I said, but I can still wish the people well. I can wish him well. He said, okay, I’ll give you only five minutes. They will give you five minutes.
“So I came and I said there, your Excellency Governor Fubara, you are here by the grace of your brother, the former governor. And today you are governor of our state.
“And I was able to remind him that it is better for you to seal all your windows because patronizers will soon come, people who lay people astray will soon come, seal your door.
“Don’t wait for people to come and say things to your ears that will destroy your relationship. In the first four years and ultimately for eight years.
“But if you open these doors, you will begin to see spirits. And don’t follow a trend and fight with Wike because if you do so, by Wike’s antecedent, these problems will continue indefinitely.
“So I admonished him because it is quick to forget what life is all about. The office of governor, I was a different person at the first tenure, I was a different person at the second tenure. The youthful exuberance, forgetting yourself can put you into so many issues.
“People who are not part of the training of a lady will come and influence the life of the lady and destroy her. Like I said on some platforms.
“So let me tell you, that was prophetic because that happened not too long after. And it became an issue between Governor Wike and Governor Fubara that led to his removal, that is spiritual.”
The comments come amid renewed hostilities in Rivers State, where Wike has warned that Fubara may not secure a second-term ticket despite his reported defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and support for President Bola Tinubu. Earlier presidential interventions by Tinubu failed to fully resolve the rivalry, which has escalated with Wike’s recent activities in the state over 17 days.
