Ajibola Basiru, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to resign his ministerial appointment and openly engage in Rivers State politics, following what he described as threats and verbal attacks against him.
Basiru’s call came after Wike issued a stern warning to APC leaders over comments on Rivers State politics, cautioning them against what he described as undue interference and alleged financial motivations.
Responding on Monday, Wike warned those visiting Rivers State to be mindful of their statements, alleging that some political actors were drawn to the state because of its resources.
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“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.
“I say it here, take this message to your National Secretary, leave Rivers State alone.
“Go and ask those who have done it before. Don’t take our support for Mr President for granted. You have to be careful with statements you make.”
Wike further cautioned Basiru against commenting on Rivers politics while enjoying political support elsewhere.
“Today, you are enjoying in Osun, you don’t know those who did the work. You are opening your mouth to talk about Rivers State. Anything you see, take it.
“Go and ask other people what has happened to them before. If your hand burns, no be me burn am o. This state is a no-go area. Take the one you have taken, stop making unnecessary comments,” he added.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Nyesom Wike Should Immediately Resign as Minister and Face His Obsession with Rivers Politics,” Basiru described the FCT minister’s comments as a tirade unbecoming of a member of the Federal Executive Council.
He said his position that sitting governors must be accorded due respect and remain leaders of the party in their states was innocuous and did not warrant what he termed an uncouth response.
“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,” Basiru said.
The APC national secretary stressed that his role required him to protect the interests of the party nationwide and could not be limited to his home state of Osun.
“Hence, my comments regarding the affairs of the APC in Rivers State cannot be an undue interference,” he added.
Basiru also rejected Wike’s allegation that he and other APC leaders were scrambling for an alleged N600 billion largesse in Rivers State, describing the claim as “cheap blackmail.”
“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 said.
Reacting to what he described as veiled threats, Basiru said he would not be intimidated.
“Let me remind Wike that he is not God and may be overplaying his political card. My faith is in God, and I will not succumb to cheap threats,” he stated, adding that he was among Nigerians who confronted military rule during the struggle for democracy.
Basiru further argued that Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not automatically confer APC membership on him.
“Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr President, and his own is no different,” he said, warning that any attempt to import the internal culture of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC would not be tolerated.
He concluded by insisting that Wike could not remain in the Federal Executive Council of an APC government while allegedly destabilising party structures.
“The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as minister,” Basiru said.
