Former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has said any prospect to reconcile Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is too late as the crisis has gone beyond reconciliation.
Speaking on Channels TV, Fayose described the situation as “very unfortunate” noting that he had counselled Fubara immediately after he was elected governor against having troubles with Wike.
Fubara, who was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) when he was the Accountant General of the state in the administration of Wike has been at loggerheads with the FCT minister over state resources and power sharing formula.
The Rivers governor had appointed all the commissioners and aides Wike had submitted to him shortly after his inauguration in 2023 and worked with them for some months.
Also, all the lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a one-party assembly were Wike’s associates, who got the PDP tickets unopposed in 2022 and won their elections in 2023.
But the crisis has divided the state assembly with a majority of the members supporting Wike, a development that has created a serious law making crisis in the state.
The crisis escalated a few weeks ago when Fubara defied calls from the Wike faction of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to conduct the LG elections. The PDP and APC boycotted the election which was won by the Action Peoples Party (APP).
However, Fayose stressed that the crisis between Fubara and Wike has gone beyond reconciliation even after he had advised against it.
He emphasised that his advice to Fubara to “avoid Wike’s trouble” was given in good faith.
“The crisis has crossed the Rubicon. The matter has gone too far,” Fayose declared.
He added, “Even if you want to resolve it, how do you restore the trust? I believe it’s too late for reconciliation.”