Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has urged Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to “climb down from his high horse” and seek reconciliation with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, rather than persist in political confrontation that analysts say has destabilised governance in the oil-producing state.
Fayose spoke during an interview on ARISE Television on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, amid ongoing impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
Fayose said Fubara and other political actors in Rivers owe their strength to support from others, cautioning that failure to show humility and manage disagreements with Wike could worsen the state’s political impasse.
“My own position is always clear. Fubara, my governor, all of them, got their strength from other people,” he said.
The former governor emphasised the importance of humility and reconciliation in governance, drawing on examples from other states where political leaders maintained peace by acknowledging the roles of predecessors and political allies.
Fayose referenced a situation in Kogi State where current leadership avoided similar unrest through respectful engagement.
Fayose also addressed the controversial “001” political title in Rivers State, questioning Fubara’s challenge to Wike’s authority and urging him to focus on managing the crisis rather than contesting leadership narratives.
“There’s a difference between the office and 001… it is a sad narrative for Governor Fubara to be struggling,” he said, stressing that reconciliation should be prioritised.
Acknowledging earlier interventions, Fayose recalled advice he gave to political successors in his home state about maintaining respect for those who provided platforms for their rise, urging Fubara to pursue peace with Wike and preserve political goodwill.
“Please governor Fubara, I’m begging you, go and make amends and be at peace,” he said.
The comments come as the Rivers State House of Assembly continues impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, on allegations including alleged demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending and defiance of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy, part of a long-running feud between Fubara and Wike that has fuelled political instability in the state.
Fayose warned that political allies who encourage confrontation may abandon Fubara if tensions escalate further, stressing the need for prudent leadership and recognition of broader political dynamics.
He also highlighted lessons from his own political career about the limits of power and the importance of learning from past experiences.
Next steps: Observers say Fubara’s response to calls for reconciliation could influence the trajectory of the crisis in Rivers State, with potential implications for governance, party cohesion and political stability as impeachment proceedings advance.
