Isaac Fayose has urged his elder brother, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, to decline his appointment as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency Board, insisting the position is beneath his political standing and should instead be handed to his son.
The Punch reported that Isaac made the remarks in a video shared on his Instagram page on Monday while reacting to the Presidency’s announcement naming Ayo Fayose among 26 individuals appointed to lead the boards of 10 federal agencies and commissions.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Ayo Fayose was named chairman of the REA board. He will serve alongside Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as non-executive directors, while the agency’s Director-General, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three executive directors will remain in office.
Reacting to the appointment, Isaac questioned why his brother was not considered for what he described as more prominent positions.
“They said they gave my brother a DG, DG, not a minister, not ambassador,” he said.
He maintained that the appointment did not reflect his brother’s political stature, adding, “They said they gave him DG, head of parastatal, chairman of a committee. They no see give him minister, they no give him ambassador.”
Drawing a comparison with Reno Omokri, Isaac said, “Even Reno Omokri sef, they gave him ambassador. They couldn’t give my brother ambassador,” before asking, “So why just chairman of a parastatal?”
Isaac also linked the appointment to the recent visit of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to his residence.
“They gave my brother DG because Obi came on Saturday to visit me. So they said, no, we must enter that family,” he claimed.
The Punch had earlier reported that Isaac described Obi as Nigeria’s “incoming president” during the visit on Saturday, shortly after threatening to withdraw his support. Obi, in response, said many of those attacking Isaac online were not genuine members of the movement.
Recalling previous conversations with his brother, Isaac said Ayo Fayose had always insisted he would stay away from public appointments after leaving office.
“But my brother told me, Ayodele Peter Fayose, told me, ‘Isaac, when I’m leaving this government house, whenever I leave this government house, I will not be a minister, I will not be DG, I will not be senator, I will not be anything. I will face my business.”
He further noted that his brother had built his wealth before entering politics, saying he had been financially successful for decades.
Isaac described the appointment as a “Greek gift” and questioned why it came only after Obi’s visit.
“Why didn’t they give you appointment since? Why did they wait till Obi come?” he asked.
Addressing his brother directly, he added, “I know you will not take this. But if you take it, who am I? Who am I? Omo Oba.”
While congratulating Ayo Fayose, Isaac advised him to pass the appointment 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,” loosely translated as, “you are a kingmaker.”
Isaac also used the opportunity to reaffirm his optimism about the opposition’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general election.
“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 dismissed fears of electoral manipulation, saying, “I’m not scared… They are scared of what they don’t know.”
