You are bigger than REA chairmanship – Isaac Fayose tells brother

Isaac Fayose has urged his elder brother, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, not to accept his appointment as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency.

President Bola Tinubu announced Fayose’s appointment on Monday alongside 25 others selected to lead 10 federal agencies and commissions.

Reacting in a video shared on Instagram, Isaac argued that the position was beneath his brother’s political stature.

“They did not give him minister, they did not give him ambassador. Even Reno Omokri, they gave him ambassador. They couldn’t give my brother ambassador,” he said.

“So why just chairman of a parastatal?”

Isaac repeatedly referred to the appointment as a director-general position, although the Presidency named Ayo Fayose as the non-executive chairman of the REA board.

The agency’s Director-General, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three executive directors were retained.

Isaac also questioned the timing of the appointment, alleging that it was connected to the recent visit of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi to his home.

“They gave my brother DG because Obi came on Saturday to visit me. So they said, ‘No, we must enter that family,’” he claimed.

He offered no evidence to support the alleged connection between Obi’s visit and the appointment.

Isaac recalled that his brother had previously vowed not to accept another government position after completing his tenure as Ekiti governor.

According to him, Ayo Fayose had promised to concentrate on his private businesses instead of becoming a minister, senator or director-general.

“But my brother told me, ‘Isaac, whenever I leave this Government House, I will not be a minister, I will not be DG, I will not be senator. I will face my business,’” he recalled.

Isaac described the appointment as a “Greek gift,” insisting that his brother was financially independent long before entering public office.

“Why didn’t they give you an appointment before? Why did they wait until Obi came?” he asked.

Addressing the former governor directly, Isaac said: “I know you will not take this. But if you take it, who am I?”

He nevertheless congratulated his brother and suggested that the position should be offered to his son instead.

“You better give your son. Please, don’t take that kind of appointment. You are too big for that. Afobaje ni e,” he said, describing Ayo Fayose as a political kingmaker.

Isaac also reaffirmed his support for Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election, claiming that the opposition already commanded 62 per cent of the votes in a free and credible contest.