Isaac Fayose Urges Brother to Reject REA Chairmanship

Isaac Fayose has advised his elder brother, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, to turn down his recent appointment as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Board, saying the position does not match his political stature and national relevance.

The younger Fayose made the remark in a video posted on his Instagram page on Monday after the Presidency announced the appointment of Ayo Fayose alongside 25 other persons into the leadership of 10 federal agencies and commissions.

The appointments were announced by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Ayo Fayose was named Chairman of the REA Board, while Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta were appointed as non-executive directors. The agency’s Director-General, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, and three executive directors were retained.

Reacting to the announcement, Isaac Fayose argued that his brother was too politically influential to be given what he described as a lower-level appointment. He said positions such as ministerial or ambassadorial appointments would have been more appropriate for a former governor with Ayo Fayose’s profile.

Isaac also compared the appointment with those given to other public figures and questioned why his brother was offered a board chairmanship rather than a more senior national role.

He further linked the timing of the appointment to the recent visit of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi to his residence. According to him, the federal government may have moved quickly to reconnect with the Fayose family after the visit attracted public attention.

The younger Fayose recalled that Ayo Fayose had previously maintained that he would not seek or accept government appointments after leaving office. He said the former governor had often stated that he intended to return fully to private business rather than become a minister, senator or head of a government agency.

Isaac also described his brother as financially independent long before entering politics, saying he had built wealth through private business activities.

He questioned why the appointment was being offered now and suggested that the timing raised political questions.

Despite his criticism, Isaac congratulated Ayo Fayose on the appointment. He, however, advised him to hand the position to his son instead of accepting it personally, insisting that a former governor and political kingmaker should not settle for a board chairmanship.

Beyond the appointment, Isaac used the opportunity to speak about the 2027 general election. He expressed confidence in the opposition’s chances and said he believed the next election could be free and credible. He also dismissed fears that the outcome would be manipulated, insisting that the political atmosphere was changing in favour of the opposition.