APC scribe to Wike: Resign as FCT minister and face your obsession with Rivers’ politics

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ajibola Basiru, has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, to resign from office, accusing him of unwarranted attacks and undue interference in the affairs of the ruling party, particularly in Rivers State.

In a statement issued on Monday, Mr Basiru said his attention was drawn to what he described as a “tirade” by Mr Wike over his recent position that members of the APC National Working Committee, NWC, must accord sitting governors due respect, stressing that governors remain the political leaders of the party in their respective states.

Mr Basiru described it as “shocking” that such an “innocuous statement” could provoke what he termed “uncouth responses” from a serving member of the Federal Executive Council.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our records indicate that Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of our party (APC), so he lacks the locus to dabble into the affairs of our party,” the APC scribe said.

He added that as National Secretary of the APC, he is constitutionally empowered to protect the interests of the party, its members, and structures across the country.

“As National Secretary of the APC, I am imbued with the responsibility to protect the interests of the party and all its members and structures. Hence, my comments on the affairs of the APC in Rivers State cannot be an undue interference. My activities cannot be confined to my home state, Osun State,” he stated.

Mr Basiru also dismissed allegations by the FCT minister that he was scrambling for a purported N600 billion allocation in Rivers State, describing the claim as “cheap blackmail.”

“I take exception to Wike’s reference to a certain N600 billion largesse in the state for which I and other APC leaders are allegedly scrambling. This is nothing but cheap blackmail, which has become his stock-in-trade,” he said.

He further challenged Mr Wike to substantiate the allegation or be prepared to face legal action.

“My background and track record are those of unquestionable integrity, and I challenge him to prove his allegations or we may meet in court,” he warned.

Reacting to what he described as threats against his office, Mr Basiru accused the former Rivers State governor of “overplaying his political card,” insisting that he would not be intimidated.

“I am one of the young Nigerians who confronted military rule and fought for democracy when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight,” he said.

The APC National Secretary also stressed that Mr Wike’s public support for President Bola Tinubu does not confer APC membership on him, noting that many non-party members also support the president.

“His attempt to destabilise our party in Rivers State will not be tolerated, and he cannot bring the spirit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC,” Mr Basiru added.

He concluded by advising Mr Wike to choose between remaining in the Federal Executive Council or engaging in partisan battles within the APC.

“Finally, my advice to Nyesom Wike is that he cannot be in the Federal Executive Council of an APC government and be causing confusion within any organ or structure of the party at any level, using the leverage of that same office. The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as minister,” Mr Basiru said.

The statement further escalates the ongoing political tension surrounding Rivers State politics and the role of the FCT minister within the APC-led federal government.