The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to resign from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, accusing him of attempting to destabilize the ruling party.
In a strongly worded statement released Monday in Abuja, Basiru warned that Wike must stop interfering in APC affairs or step down from his ministerial position immediately.
The APC national secretary said his attention had been drawn to what he termed “the tirade” from Wike following his earlier statement that all National Working Committee (NWC) members must respect sitting governors, who remain party leaders in their respective states.
Basiru expressed surprise that such a straightforward statement could provoke what he called “uncouth responses” from a Federal Executive Council member.
“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,” Basiru stated, adding that “the honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as Minister.”
The APC official further insisted that Wike lacks the authority to meddle in party matters, noting that “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 our Party.”
Wike’s Warning
The clash escalated after Wike earlier on Monday warned Basiru to stay away from Rivers State politics during a thank-you visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area. The minister alleged that some political actors had taken advantage of the N600 billion reportedly left in the state’s coffers and were now making reckless statements about Rivers affairs.
Wike’s warning came in response to Basiru’s criticism of remarks made by APC Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, who had referred to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as “the so-called Governor” and claimed Fubara could not win a second term without Wike’s support.
Basiru had described Giadom’s comments as unfortunate, insisting that the office of governor deserves respect regardless of political differences. In a Facebook post Sunday, he wrote: “The office of the governor is an exalted position, and whoever is occupying it must be respected, irrespective of whatever political differences you have.”
However, Wike fired back, declaring Rivers State a “no-go area” for political interference and warning of serious consequences for those who fail to heed his caution.
“Let me warn those who come to Rivers State, because you have heard that we have N600bn, you come here, you collect, and you open your mouth to talk anyhow,” Wike said. “Take this message to your National Secretary, leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have done it before.”
Basiru Stands Firm
In his Monday response, Basiru rejected suggestions that he was overstepping his boundaries, asserting that as National Secretary, he has “the responsibility to protect the interests of the Party and all its members and structures.”
He dismissed allegations that APC leaders were scrambling for Rivers State’s purported N600 billion, calling it “nothing but cheap blackmail which has become his stock-in-trade.” Basiru challenged Wike to prove his allegations or face legal action, defending his “unquestionable integrity.”
Addressing what he characterized as veiled threats from the FCT minister, Basiru warned that Wike was “not God and may be overplaying his political card.” He declared he would not be intimidated, noting that he was “one of the young Nigerians that confronted Military rule, fighting for democracy, when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight.”
The APC national secretary emphasized that Wike’s public support for President Tinubu does not automatically confer APC membership. “Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr President and his own is no different,” Basiru said, warning that “his attempt to destabilize our Party in Rivers State will not be tolerated and he cannot bring the spirit of PDP into the APC.”
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