‘Not by Force to Be Relevant’: Isaac Fayose Blasts Brother Over Oyo School Abduction Remarks

A fresh controversy has erupted within the Fayose family after businessman Isaac Fayose publicly challenged comments made by his elder brother, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, regarding the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.

In a video posted on his Instagram page on Tuesday, Isaac Fayose criticized the former governor’s remarks on the security situation in Oyo State, insisting that insecurity is a national challenge that should not be selectively politicised.

The businessman argued that similar security incidents occurred during various administrations across the country, including in Ekiti State when his brother was governor.

“Four, five years ago, they kidnapped people in Ekiti State, and you’re supporting the governor. Why didn’t you tell the governor that you are collecting security vote? Why can’t you protect Ekiti people?” Isaac said in the video.

Questions Over Selective Criticism

Isaac further questioned what he described as inconsistent criticism of state governments facing security challenges.

According to him, several states governed by different political parties have experienced deadly attacks, kidnappings, and other forms of insecurity, yet their governors are not subjected to the same level of scrutiny.

“People are looking at you and saying, ‘What is this man turning to?’ So you mean people that have been dying in APC states, Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kwara—their governors pocket their security vote?” he asked.

He maintained that insecurity remains a complex national issue that cannot be reduced to partisan politics or blamed solely on individual state governments.

‘Stay Quiet If You Have Nothing to Say’

In one of the strongest moments of his response, Isaac advised his brother to avoid making inflammatory political comments simply to remain in the public spotlight.

“My brother, if you don’t have anything to say, please stay quiet like any other former governors. It’s not by force to be relevant,” he said.

The remarks have since generated reactions online, with supporters and critics weighing in on the unusual public disagreement between the two brothers.

Controversial Comments Sparked Backlash

Isaac’s reaction follows comments made by Ayodele Fayose during a televised interview on Channels Television on Monday.

The former Ekiti governor had suggested that the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in parts of Oyo State may have been politically motivated.

According to Fayose, he believed the incident could have been orchestrated to embarrass President Bola Tinubu and cast the Federal Government in a negative light.

“I sometimes believe that the abduction at Oyo school was orchestrated by the Oyo State Government to blackmail President Tinubu,” Fayose stated during the interview.

He also questioned the response of the Oyo State Government to the incident, alleging that Governor Seyi Makinde did not act swiftly enough after the abduction and only visited affected families after engaging in political activities.

Debate Continues

The comments have fueled intense political debate, with supporters of both camps arguing over the appropriateness of linking security incidents to political motives without concrete evidence.

The abduction itself has already sparked widespread concern among teachers, labour unions, students, and civil society groups, who have called for urgent action to secure the release of the victims and strengthen security around schools.

As discussions continue, many Nigerians have echoed Governor Seyi Makinde’s earlier call for unity, insisting that the focus should remain on rescuing those still in captivity rather than engaging in political blame games.