Fayose’s brother urges ex-Ekiti governor to reject REA chairmanship appointment

Isaac Fayose has publicly appealed to his elder brother, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, to reject his appointment as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Board, arguing that the position does not reflect the former governor’s political experience and national profile.

The appeal followed the announcement by President Bola Tinubu approving the appointment of 26 chairmen and board members for 10 federal agencies and commissions, with Ayodele Fayose named to lead the REA Board. The appointments were announced in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Under the new board composition, Fayose will serve as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) alongside Ahmadu Abubakar and Ilyasu Ibrahim Makinta as non-executive directors, while Abba Abubakar Aliyu remains the agency’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer with three executive directors retained on the board.

Reacting in a video posted on his Instagram page, Isaac Fayose congratulated his brother on the appointment but maintained that the former governor deserved a more prominent federal position after serving two terms as governor of Ekiti State.

According to him, appointments such as minister or ambassador would have better reflected Fayose’s political standing than chairing a federal agency.

He questioned why the former governor was offered the REA position instead of what he described as a higher national office, insisting that his brother had built a strong political career and commanded significant influence within Nigeria’s political landscape.

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Isaac also compared the appointment with that of former presidential aide Reno Omokri, arguing that others had been given what he considered more prestigious federal roles.

In the video, he suggested that the timing of the appointment may not be coincidental, linking it to the recent visit of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to his residence.

Isaac claimed the appointment may have been influenced by political considerations, although he did not provide evidence to support the assertion.

Recalling previous conversations with his brother, Isaac said Ayodele Fayose had repeatedly stated after leaving office that he had no intention of accepting another public appointment.

He said the former governor had always maintained that he would focus on his private businesses after completing his tenure, noting that he had established himself in business long before entering politics.

Describing the REA appointment as a “Greek gift,” Isaac questioned why it was being offered several years after Fayose left office.

Despite his reservations, he congratulated his brother and urged him to pass the opportunity to one of his sons instead of accepting it personally.

“I know you will not take this appointment,” Isaac said, expressing confidence that the former governor would decline the offer.

Beyond the appointment, Isaac also expressed optimism about the prospects of the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election, saying he believes the political landscape could shift significantly before Nigerians return to the polls.

The appointment of Ayodele Fayose has continued to generate reactions across political circles, with supporters and critics expressing differing opinions over whether the former governor should accept the role.

While some view the appointment as recognition of Fayose’s experience in public service, others believe the former governor should decide independently whether the position aligns with his political aspirations and future plans.

As of the time of filing this report, Ayodele Fayose has not publicly commented on his appointment or responded to his brother’s appeal.

Fayose’s brother urges ex-Ekiti governor to reject REA chairmanship appointment

PFIPC Scandal: Adeyemi Reveals How ₦1.3 Billion Made It Into 2026 Budget

• Self-styled DG says he lobbied Budget Office officials but denies paying bribes; Reps begin probe as Head of Service, CBN disown agency

LAGOS, Nigeria – The self-styled Director-General of the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Adeniyi Matthew Adeyemi, has explained how the agency was captured in the Federal Government’s 2026 budget, despite his arrest before the appropriation process was concluded.

Adeyemi made the claims in an interview with social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, in a recording released shortly after his arrest. He said the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, had no hand in the N1.3 billion budgetary allocation, adding that he personally approached top Budget Office officials for the agency’s inclusion. He noted that the process was not completed before his arrest, saying he was surprised to later discover that the proposed agency had appeared in the budget.

The PFIPC scandal has drawn nationwide attention after it emerged that about ₦1.3 billion was allocated to the agency under Budget Code 0111062001 in the 2026 Appropriation Act, despite the Presidency disowning the council as fictitious and without legal backing. The allocation comprised ₦802.98 million for personnel costs, ₦200 million for overheads, and ₦300 million for capital projects.

Adeyemi said he visited the Budget Office in December 2024 to seek inclusion of the agency in the 2025 Appropriation Bill but was informed that the budget process had already closed. “I went to that Budget Office for the 2025 budget. I submitted the letter and everything that I wanted, but I was told it was already late. When the 2025 budget came out and I didn’t see it, they told me it would now be for the 2026 budget. We kept in touch because they said it would be considered later,” he said.

He alleged that a female official helped him gain access to the office of the Director-General of Budget Office before he was referred to another director. “She helped me to see the oga. Oga now said, ‘Where is my shini?’ I said I don’t have any shini. He later asked me to meet one director,” he said. The director informed him that the proposal could no longer be accommodated in the 2025 budget but assured him that efforts would continue towards the 2026 appropriation. “They were trying for me that maybe they would include it, but unfortunately they said it could not be included in the 2025 budget. They said it would be for 2026,” he stated.

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Asked whether he paid any Budget Office official, Adeyemi said he only promised officials some favours on execution of the deal. “Honestly, I did not pay any money. I didn’t pay anybody. The only thing I promised was that if I started employing people, I could help them with employment opportunities,” he said. He admitted promising future favours to some officials but insisted no cash exchanged hands during his interactions at the Budget Office. “That was the favour I promised them. I did not give anybody money. It was just a promise that if they had people, I could employ them later,” he said.

According to Adeyemi, the process ended immediately after his arrest because his legal troubles overtook every other plan. He said: “Immediately there was a problem, everything stopped. Even the woman that wanted to help was calling but she couldn’t reach me. I told her to let everything stop. I didn’t even know until they said it was inside the budget. I had already left the office. Where would I still pursue the budget when I was already facing the court?” When the interviewer suggested officials might have inserted the agency into the budget after his arrest, Adeniyi said he could not explain how it happened. “I don’t know because once that problem started, everything stopped. Why would I still pursue the budget when I was already in trouble?” he said.

On allegations that he paid N400 million to facilitate his appointment, Adeniyi claimed the money was delivered in United States dollars through his late associate, Dolapo Tanimola, and that he was not sure if it was delivered to Gbajabiamila. Asked the denomination of the money, he replied, “Dollars.” Asked who received it, he answered, “Dolapo.” Adeyemi also denied ever meeting the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, despite alleging that money was sent through Tanimola. Speaking further during the interview released on Tuesday, Adeyemi declared that he never met Gbajabiamila physically before or after his appointment. He said Tanimola acted as the intermediary throughout the process and facilitated the alleged N400 million payment made in dollars. “I never met Gbajabiamila physically before and after he was appointed. Dolapo Tanimola handled everything for me,” Adeniyi said.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the PFIPC, on Tuesday heard testimonies from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with both institutions distancing themselves from creation and operation of the council. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, told the committee that her office had no constitutional responsibility to establish government agencies. “The approval and establishment of agencies is not within the purview of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. However, the OHCSF is responsible for approving the administrative structure of federal government agencies,” she said.

The Presidency had said the PFIPC is not a recognised government agency and that Adeyemi forged documents to present himself as an appointee and head of the agency. The Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) was established by former President Muhammadu Buhari and included prominent Nigerian economists, but the council has ceased to exist since President Bola Tinubu assumed office. Reports from the National Assembly suggest that PFIPC officials never appeared before the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters, the body ordinarily responsible for vetting agencies before their budgets are approved. The allocation is said to have entered through a backdoor arrangement without budget defence.

The Senate has resolved to await the outcome of an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before taking action on the controversy. President Bola Tinubu has directed the ICPC to investigate the entire scandal and report back within 30 days. The House of Representatives has also launched its own investigations into the matter.

PFIPC Scandal: Adeyemi Reveals How ₦1.3 Billion Made It Into 2026 Budget