January 05, (THEWILL) — The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has sharply criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, urging him to resign his appointment and desist from interfering in the internal affairs of the ruling party in Rivers State.
Basiru’s reaction followed what he described as repeated verbal attacks and attempts by the former Rivers State governor to influence party structures in the state.
Speaking Monday during a visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, where he stressed that Rivers made a conscious and collective political decision in 2023, taken in good faith and at great risk, which must be respected by all, Wike cautioned APC leaders and other political actors at the national level to desist from interfering in the political affairs of Rivers, warning that the state’s support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election should not be taken for granted.
“Let me warn those who come to Rivers State. You come here, you collect, and you open your mouth and start talking. I want to say it clearly: tell the National Secretary to leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have tried it before. Tell the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, ‘Leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have tried it before. Don’t take our support for President Tinubu for granted. You have to be careful with your statements. You’re enjoying in Osun, but you don’t know those who did the work, and you’re opening your mouth to talk about Rivers State. Anything you see, take it. When President Tinubu comes back, I’ll tell the Minister of Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to warn him. I can challenge anybody. This state is a no-go area”, he said.
Responding in a statement he personally signed on Monday, Basiru insisted that Wike, who is not a registered member of the APC, lacks the moral and legal standing to dabble into the party’s affairs.
The APC scribe explained that his earlier position that sitting governors remain the leaders of the party in their respective states and must be accorded due respect by all party organs was a long-established party principle and not targeted at any individual.
“It is shocking that such an innocuous statement could attract such uncouth responses from a member of the Federal Executive Council,” Basiru said.
He maintained that, as National Secretary of the APC, he is constitutionally mandated to safeguard the interests of the party and its members nationwide, stressing that his responsibilities are not limited to his home state of Osun.
Basiru also dismissed allegations by Wike suggesting that APC leaders were scrambling for an alleged N600 billion largesse in Rivers State, describing the claim as “cheap blackmail” aimed at discrediting party officials.
“My background and track record speak for themselves. I challenge him to substantiate these allegations or be prepared to prove them in court”, he stated.
Responding to what he termed veiled threats from the FCT Minister, Basiru said he would not be intimidated, adding that his political journey was rooted in the struggle for democracy during Nigeria’s military era.
“I put my faith in God and will not succumb to cheap threats. I was among young Nigerians who confronted military dictatorship when some of those making threats today were nowhere in sight,” he said.
The APC National Secretary further emphasised that Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not automatically translate to membership of the APC, noting that many Nigerians outside the party also supported the President in the 2023 elections.
He accused the FCT Minister of attempting to destabilise the APC in Rivers State and warned that importing the “culture of the PDP” into the ruling party would not be tolerated.
Basiru further said that it was inappropriate for Wike to remain in the Federal Executive Council of an APC-led government while allegedly using the influence of his office to cause division within the party.
“The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as Minister and stop meddling in the internal affairs of the APC”, Basiru said.
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