Isaac Fayose has urged his elder brother and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, to reject his appointment as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), insisting that the position is beneath his political status.
The younger Fayose made the appeal in a video posted on his Instagram page on Monday while reacting to the Presidency’s announcement of the appointment.
President Bola Tinubu had appointed Ayodele Fayose as Chairman of the REA board alongside Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as non-executive directors. The appointments were announced in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The agency’s Director-General, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three executive directors were retained, while the Presidency also announced appointments into the leadership of 10 federal agencies and commissions.
Reacting to the development, Isaac Fayose argued that his brother deserved a higher national office, such as a ministerial or ambassadorial appointment.
“They said they gave my brother DG, head of parastatal, chairman of a committee. They no give him minister, they no give him ambassador,” he said.
He also compared the appointment with that of former presidential aide Reno Omokri, claiming Omokri had been appointed an ambassador.
According to Isaac, the REA chairmanship was not commensurate with his brother’s political influence.
He further alleged that the appointment was influenced by the recent visit of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to him.
“They gave my brother DG because Obi came on Saturday to visit me. So they said, no, we must enter that family,” he claimed.
Describing the appointment as a “Greek gift,” Isaac questioned why the offer came only after Obi’s visit.
He also recalled that Ayodele Fayose had previously maintained that he would focus on his private business after leaving office and had no intention of accepting another government appointment.
Isaac said his brother had built a successful business before becoming governor and remained financially capable of sustaining himself outside public office.
Addressing him directly, Isaac expressed confidence that the former governor would decline the appointment.
“I know you will not take this. But if you take it, who am I?” he said.
He nevertheless congratulated Ayodele Fayose before urging him to hand over the position to his son instead.
“Congrats on your appointment. You better give your son. Please, don’t use that kind of appointment. You are too big for that. Afobaje ni e,” he said.
The Yoruba phrase “Afobaje ni e” is commonly used to describe someone regarded as a kingmaker.
Isaac Fayose also reiterated his confidence that the opposition would emerge victorious in the 2027 general election, expressing optimism that the polls would be free, fair and credible.
“I am ready to see it through. And I know what we have on ground in Nigeria today. Election, we have 62 per cent, total vote cast, free and fair, credible,” he said.
He dismissed fears of electoral manipulation, adding that those in power were “scared of what they don’t know.”
