“Climb Down From Your High Horse” – Fayose tells Fubara

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has urged Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reconcile with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to end the state’s political crisis. During an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Fayose warned that confronting a political mentor is a dangerous path that often leads to isolation.  

Fayose emphasized that Fubara’s current position was made possible by Wike’s support and suggested that humility is the key to political survival. “My own position is always clear. Fubara, my governor, all of them, got their strength from other people,” he stated, citing the stable relationship between the current Governor of Kogi and his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, as a model.

The former governor dismissed the importance of the “001” title, arguing that constitutional authority should not be used to challenge political leadership. “There’s a difference between the office and 001. What brought about the 001? Who gave you the platform to call yourself the 001? It is a sad narrative for Governor Fubara to be struggling. Rather, he should manage the situation,” Fayose remarked.

Addressing the threat of removal, Fayose warned that Fubara’s supporters would likely desert him if his administration collapsed. “Those people leading on Governor Fubara, if Governor Fubara goes down today, they will run away. People who were saying I should fight back those days, they were not there when I was isolated and when I was alone,” he cautioned.

He further reminded Fubara of the recent emergency rule period in 2025, suggesting that the governor narrowly survived losing his office entirely. “By now, Governor Fubara would have been history because the moment you are impeached, you’re out of the way. You can’t contest. It is time for Governor Fubara to learn. Learn the way I learned my lesson after my first tenor,” he added.

Fayose’s plea concluded with a direct call for the governor to seek a peaceful resolution with his “leader.” “Please governor Fubara, I’m begging you, go and make amends and be at peace. Climb down from his high horse, look for his brother, his leader, the man who was thoughtful enough to say among all you brides, I will marry you, come to the office of the governor,” he said.

This intervention comes as the Rivers State House of Assembly intensifies efforts to remove the governor. Last Thursday, January 8, 2026, the Assembly served Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, with notices of impeachment, alleging gross misconduct, unauthorized spending, and a failure to present the 2026 budget.