Isaac Fayose Says Ayo Is 'Too Big' for REA Role

"They didn't make you a minister or ambassador. They only made you chairman of a parastatal. You are bigger than that," he said.

Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has publicly urged his brother to reject his appointment as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), arguing that the role falls short of his political stature and contradicts his long-held post-office position.

In a video shared on his social media platforms on Monday, Isaac said the former governor had repeatedly declared after leaving office that he would not seek or accept another political appointment, choosing instead to focus on his private business.

His comments followed President Bola Tinubu's announcement appointing Ayo Fayose as chairman of the REA board, one of 26 appointments into the boards of 10 federal government agencies and commissions.

According to a statement issued by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Fayose will serve as REA board chairman alongside 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 insisted his brother should remain consistent with his earlier position.

"He said that once he left Government House, he would never become a minister, director-general or senator. He said he would return to his private business," Isaac said.

He also stressed that Ayo Fayose had built considerable wealth before venturing into politics and therefore had no need to accept a government appointment.

According to him, the former governor had been financially successful long before entering public office and should not compromise the image he built over the years.

Isaac questioned the timing of the appointment, describing it as a "Greek gift" and suggesting it may have been influenced by recent political developments, including the visit of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi.

"Why didn't they give you the appointment before? Why did they wait until Obi came?" he asked.

He further argued that the REA chairmanship did not reflect his brother's political standing.

"They didn't make you a minister or ambassador. They only made you chairman of a parastatal. You are bigger than that," he said.

Drawing a comparison with former presidential aide Reno Omokri, Isaac claimed Omokri had been offered an ambassadorial appointment, questioning why his brother received what he considered a less significant role.

Despite his criticism, Isaac expressed confidence that Ayo Fayose would reject the appointment.

"I know you will not take this. But if you take it, who am I?" he said, before suggesting that the former governor should instead allow his son to benefit from the opportunity.

"You are too big for that. You are a kingmaker," he added.

Isaac concluded by expressing optimism about the opposition's chances ahead of the 2027 general election, saying he believed the political landscape would favour a credible electoral outcome.

President Tinubu announced Fayose's appointment on Monday as part of a broader reshuffle involving 26 appointments across 10 federal agencies and commissions. The appointments, according to the Presidency, took immediate effect.