Anyone who watched Ayo Fayose’s outburst at the so-called PDP “convention” in Abuja would be left wondering how individuals of such staggering intellectual poverty ever rose to positions of authority in Nigeria.
Fayose’s alarming lack of depth, combined with his reckless torrent of words, is a tragic reflection of how far the Nigerian political space has deteriorated and the calibre of dubious characters who now strut about as power brokers.
Before addressing his latest display of incoherence, it is only fitting to remind him of the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13–21). The rich fool, intoxicated by temporary abundance, mistook fleeting comfort for permanence, arrogantly assuming he owned tomorrow, only to have his life demanded of him that very night. That cautionary tale finds a disturbingly apt parallel in Ayo Fayose – a man swollen with excess, blinded by opportunism, and utterly devoid of foresight. A glutton for relevance, a laggard in thought, and a caricature of political perfidy, Fayose appears to believe that mere utterance transforms falsehood into fact. That is the depth of his delusion.
Emboldened by his alliance with Nyesom Wike, a man whose political trajectory is defined by betrayal – Fayose now speaks with the reckless abandon of someone who has gorged too long at the trough of opportunism. Their indulgence in power and privilege has clearly fostered the illusion that they are beyond consequence. But history is replete with examples of such hubris ending in disgrace. Their day of reckoning, however delayed, is inevitable.
It is particularly telling that Fayose, unprovoked, launched into a tirade against Governor Seyi Makinde. In his usual fashion, he attempts to drag others into the mud, forgetting that he lacks both the moral standing and intellectual capacity to contend with Makinde. Experience has already shown him this. One wonders if he has conveniently forgotten how his previous attempts to dominate the PDP South-West collapsed, forcing him into a humiliating retreat.
Governor Makinde’s trajectory built on discipline, enterprise, and credibility; stands in stark contrast to Fayose’s history of political theatrics and personal instability. While one built value, the other chased relevance. While one commands respect, the other struggles to command credibility.
Fayose’s pattern is clear – loud, erratic, and perpetually available to the highest bidder. It is this reputation that has earned him widespread distrust, even among those closest to him. His political relevance has never been sustained by principle, only by proximity to corrupt power.
Meanwhile, the broader picture is even more troubling. The desperation of the current political establishment to manipulate party structures and undermine democratic norms is becoming impossible to ignore. With standing court orders and ongoing legal challenges surrounding the legitimacy of the fake Abuja convention, it is astonishing – though not surprising that certain actors continue to push forward with actions that raise serious constitutional questions.
For Wike to claim that Governor Makinde has been suspended is not only legally questionable but intellectually insulting. It is the kind of absurdity that thrives only in environments where impunity is mistaken for authority.
As for Fayose, his latest rant is less a political statement and more a public exhibition of instability. Perhaps prolonged exposure to patronage and unchecked indulgence has clouded whatever judgment he once possessed. But reality has a way of asserting itself.
The truth remains unchanged – the legitimacy of party structures will ultimately be determined by due process, not by noise, intimidation, or theatrical declarations.
And to the question of “reconciliation” – what kind of reconciliation demands the surrender of a party’s identity and principles? What logic dictates that a party should adopt its political opponent as its standard-bearer? That is not reconciliation; it is capitulation dressed in deception.
To members of the PDP who remain committed to its ideals, there is clarity. Leadership grounded in discipline and vision will outlast opportunism and noise. Governor Seyi Makinde has demonstrated that steadiness in the face of provocation is not weakness, but strength.
In the end, political theatrics fade. Institutions endure. And those who mistake temporary influence for lasting relevance often learn, too late, that history is neither kind nor forgetful.
- Dare Adeleke writes from Ibadan
