Ayodele Fayose, former Ekiti governor, says only fasting andprayers can save Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers State, from impeachment. Fayose spoke on Friday in a Channels Television interview inreaction to the rift between Fubara and the Rivers state house of assembly. The assembly on Thursday initiated impeachment proceedingsagainst Fubara and Ngozi Odu, deputy governor of Rivers, over allegations of“gross misconduct”. Martins Amaewhule, speaker of the Rivers assembly, hadaccused the governor and his deputy of constituting a threat to democracy. Amaewhule also faulted Fubara for allegedly refusing topresent the state budget in line with constitutional provisions. Enemi George, chairman of the House Committee oninformation, petitions and complaints, said notices of gross misconduct hadbeen forwarded to Fubara and Odu. During the interview, Fayose urged Fubara to reconcile withNyesom Wike, former Rivers governor and minister of the Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT). Fayose criticised the governor for appointing cabinetmembers and spending public funds without the approval of the state assembly. “I’m not a prophet, so many prayers would be said to saveFubara. So many fasts and prayers would be the only thing that would saveFubara in this one,” Fayose said. “My prayer is that God will enter his mind, and thepresident will help calm him down.” The former Ekiti governor said he never anticipated apolitical fallout between Fubara and Wike. “Let me quickly say this: I never knew this thing would everhappen between Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the FCT minister,Nyesom Wike,” Fayose said. He recalled events surrounding Fubara’s swearing-inceremony. “I was sitting on the high table the day Governor Fubara wassworn in,” he said. “And I told Wike that I want to say one or two things toFubara not to betray you. “He said, ‘I should not say it; he cannot do it’.” Fayose was sworn in for his first term as Ekiti governor in2003, but he was impeached in 2006 over alleged mismanagement of state funds. However, in 2014, the Supreme Court nullified theimpeachment. In June 2014, Fayose again contested the Ekiti governorshipelection and defeated the incumbent, Kayode Fayemi of the All ProgressivesCongress (APC). Fayose was inaugurated for his second term in October 2014and served until 2018.
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