Ayo Fayose, former Ekiti State governor, has offered a compelling perspective on the political landscape of Lagos State, asserting that President Bola Tinubu wields significant influence, controlling the state “from the palms of his hands.” This viewpoint emerged as Fayose disagreed with claims by Governor Siminalayi Fubara regarding his own political standing in Rivers State. Fayose used the situation in Lagos as a comparison to illustrate his argument that gubernatorial power does not automatically equate to ultimate political leadership within a state. He pointed to the recent impeachment and subsequent reinstatement of the Lagos State House of Assembly speaker as a prime example of Tinubu’s directive power, suggesting the reversal occurred due to the president’s implicit will. Fayose elaborated on this during an interview with Arise News, stating that the president’s dislike for ingratitude was a driving force behind the speaker’s restoration, framing it as an affront to Tinubu’s leadership. He questioned whether current Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu could genuinely claim to be the state’s ultimate leader, implying such declarations might be for appearances rather than reflecting true authority. Fayose believes Governor Fubara owes his current political survival to President Tinubu’s intervention. He explained that the state of emergency declared by Tinubu in Rivers State acted as a crucial lifeline, preventing Fubara’s impeachment and subsequent removal from power. Fayose advised Fubara to learn from these political maneuvers to ensure his continued tenure, drawing a parallel to his own past experiences as a governor. The former governor suggested that Tinubu had effectively outmaneuvered Fubara, and that the Rivers State governor should learn from this to navigate the complexities of political power. These comments arrive amidst an ongoing and intense political dispute between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, concerning the control of Rivers State’s political machinery. In a significant move in December 2025, Fubara officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). During the inauguration of the Rivers Airport Bypass Project on December 12, Fubara publicly pledged his allegiance to the ruling party and President Tinubu. He proudly declared his position within the APC, stating, “Today, I am very happy. I am not just a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC); I am the number one. I have collected my [membership] card, and the form is 001.”
