Fubara: President Tinubu Controls Lagos From The Palm Of His Hands – Fayose

Former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has disagreed with the claim by Governor Siminalayi Fubara that he is the “001” of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

Fayose argued that being the Governor does not give any individual automatic political leadership in the state.

To buttress his point, Abia Radio News reports that Fayose compared the declaration by Governor Fubara with the political leadership in Lagos State, arguing that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu cannot lay claim to being the ultimate political leader of the state.

According to Fayose, the political leadership in Lagos State rests firmly under the control of President Bola Tinubu.

To drive home his point, Fayose, who spoke on Tuesday during an interview with Arise News, cited the recent impeachment and reinstatement of the Lagos State House of Assembly speaker, describing the reversal as evidence of Tinubu’s political control in Lagos State.

He said, “The president that I know hates ingratitude; he controls Lagos from the palms of his hands. For instance, the speaker was impeached, and another person took over in Lagos State. The president, without saying a word, caused the system to restore that speaker because it’s an affront to the president, who is the leader.

“Will you tell me Sanwo-Olu is the leader in Lagos? Let him come out and say he’s the leader in the state. There are certain things that are said to cause aesthetics. Don’t let it get to your head.”

Fubara Must Learn

Speaking further, Fayose said the state of emergency declared by President Tinubu in Rivers State, gave Governor Fubara a political lifeline and saved him from impeachment.

He added that Fubara needs to understand how politics works if he wants to remain in power.

He said, “The emergency rule was all-winning for Governor Fubara because by now he would have been history because the moment you’re impeached, you are out of the way and can’t contest.

“If you read the contest of President Tinubu, he took Governor Fubara to the cleaners, and it’s time for Governor Fubara to learn, the way I learnt after my first tenure as governor.”

The comments come amid a prolonged political feud between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over control of Rivers State’s political structure.

In December 2025, Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

During the flag-off of the Rivers Airport Bypass Project on December 12, he publicly declared his loyalty to the ruling party and President Tinubu.

“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,” Fubara said.