TDThe simmering feud between former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele “Ayo” Fayose and his younger brother, businessman Isaac Fayose, has once again spilled into public view.
Isaac openly condemned his elder brother’s recent comments on Channels Television.
Ayo Fayose had suggested on television that the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, may have been politically staged by Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
Fayose’s Controversial Channels TV Comments
During his appearance on Politics Today on Monday, June 1, 2026, Ayo Fayose alleged that Governor Makinde’s government might have orchestrated or exploited the abduction incident to embarrass President Bola Tinubu.
Fayose argued that Makinde was more focused on political maneuvering, such as candidate nominations, than on urgent security responses.
Drawing parallels to insecurity under former President Goodluck Jonathan, he remarked:
“I sometimes believe that in a way, the abduction in Oyo State was orchestrated by the Oyo State Government to blackmail President Tinubu.”
He stressed that governors receive security votes and therefore bear primary responsibility for local security.
The Oyo Abduction Incident and Isaac Fayose’s Sharp Response
The remarks were tied to the May 2026 attack in Orire Local Government Area near Ogbomoso.
Armed men abducted dozens of students and teachers in the area.
One teacher was gruesomely beheaded during the assault, intensifying national outrage.
Isaac Fayose swiftly reacted in a video posted on social media late Monday, expressing deep embarrassment over his brother’s statements.
He questioned why Ayo Fayose singled out Oyo State while ignoring similar kidnappings in APC-controlled states such as Kwara, Niger, and Borno.
“What is the sense in this?” Isaac asked.
He urged his brother to remain silent if he had nothing constructive to offer.
He branded the comments hypocritical and declared: “I am ashamed of my brother.”
His video and accompanying posts quickly went viral, amplifying the family discord.
Ongoing Family Tensions and Broader National Context
This clash adds to a history of public disagreements between the brothers.
Isaac, often aligned with opposition voices and youth accountability movements, previously criticized Ayo Fayose on his 65th birthday in 2025 and on other political issues.
Reports suggest that the siblings maintain limited direct communication.
The Oyo abduction has drawn nationwide concern, with President Tinubu dispatching a delegation to assess the situation.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government suspended school field trips and intensified security operations.
Many victims remain in captivity.
Ayo Fayose’s remarks have triggered backlash for appearing to minimize state-level accountability while defending the federal government.
Isaac’s rebuke underscores how divisions over Nigeria’s insecurity crisis can cut across political lines and even fracture families.
This episode highlights how political commentary in Nigeria often becomes deeply personal, especially on sensitive issues like school abductions that affect communities across the nation.
As of this report, Ayo Fayose has not issued a response to his brother’s criticism.
