Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, said Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara may need fasting and prayers to escape impeachment.
Fayose made the comment during a Channels Television interview on Friday while reacting to the growing tension between Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
On Thursday, the lawmakers began impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over alleged gross misconduct.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, accused both officials of actions he described as dangerous to democracy.
Amaewhule also claimed that the governor failed to present the state budget in line with constitutional requirements.
The chairman of the House Committee on Information, Enemi George, later confirmed that formal notices of the allegations had been served on both the governor and his deputy.
Speaking during the interview, Fayose advised Fubara to mend fences with Nyesom Wike, the former Rivers governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
He also faulted Fubara for allegedly making cabinet appointments and approving spending without the backing of the State Assembly.
According to him, prayers and fasting may be the governor’s only option, adding that he hoped President Bola Tinubu would intervene to calm the situation.
He questioned how Fubara could appoint officials and spend public funds without legislative approval, dismissing calls for Wike to be sidelined and pointing to the former governor’s continued political influence.
“I’m not a prophet, so many prayers would be said to save Fubara. So many fasts and prayers would be the only thing that would save Fubara in this one.
“My prayer is that God will enter his mind, and the president will help calm him down.”
“How can he be appointing people in his cabinet and spending money without constitutional backing and approval of the State Assembly?
“People are talking about Wike; remove Wike. Can you remove who or what he is? Can’t you see people popping out during his rallies?” Fayose said.
Fayose said he never expected a fallout between Fubara and Wike, recalling that he attended Fubara’s swearing-in ceremony and had earlier wanted to caution the him against turning against Wike.
However, he said Wike assured him such a situation would never happen.
“Let me quickly say this: I never knew this thing would ever happen between Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.
“I was sitting on the high table the day Governor Fubara was sworn in. And I told Wike that I want to say one or two things to Fubara not to betray you.
“He said, ‘I should not say it; he cannot do it,” Fayose said.
The former governor also noted that President Tinubu dislikes ingratitude, suggesting that many political figures might have faded into irrelevance without the President’s support.
He cited Wike’s appointment as FCT minister as an example, saying the move helped preserve his political relevance.
KanyiDaily recalls that Rivers APC rejected the move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Ngozi Odu, saying such action could threaten the state’s stability.
