Isaac Fayose has urged his elder brother and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, to decline his appointment as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Board, saying the position does not reflect his political stature.
Isaac made the remarks in a video shared on his Instagram page on Monday while reacting to the Federal Government’s announcement appointing Ayo Fayose and 25 others into the boards of 10 federal agencies and commissions.
President Bola Tinubu had approved Ayo Fayose’s appointment as Chairman of the REA Board. According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the board also includes Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as non-executive directors, while the agency’s Director-General, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three executive directors were retained.
Reacting to the appointment, Isaac questioned why his brother was offered what he described as a lower-profile position instead of a ministerial or ambassadorial role.
“They said they gave my brother DG, not a minister, not ambassador,” he said.
He added, “They said they gave him DG, head of parastatal, chairman of a committee. They no give him minister, they no give him ambassador.”
Isaac also compared the appointment with that of Reno Omokri, saying, “Even Reno Omokri sef, they gave him ambassador. They couldn’t give my brother ambassador. So why just chairman of a parastatal?”
He suggested that the appointment was influenced by the recent visit of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) 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 younger Fayose recalled that his brother had previously told him he would not seek or accept political appointments after leaving office.
“My brother told me, ‘Isaac, when I’m leaving 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 said.
Isaac maintained that Ayo Fayose had achieved financial success before entering politics and had no need for another public office.
Describing the appointment as a “Greek gift,” he questioned why it was offered at this time.
“Why didn’t they give you appointment since? Why did they wait till Obi come?” he asked.
While congratulating his brother, Isaac advised him to pass the position to his son instead of accepting it.
“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, using a Yoruba expression that describes a kingmaker.
Isaac also reiterated his confidence in the opposition’s chances in the 2027 general election, expressing optimism about its electoral prospects and dismissing fears of manipulation of the outcome.