The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to desist from what he described as attempts to destabilise the ruling party, insisting that the minister should resign his appointment if he cannot refrain from interfering in the party’s internal affairs.
Basiru issued the warning in a strongly worded statement released on Monday in Abuja, following what he described as repeated verbal attacks by the FCT minister against his person and office.
According to the APC scribe, his comments calling for respect for sitting governors whom he described as leaders of the party in their respective states were “innocuous” and should not have attracted what he termed “uncouth responses” from a serving member of the Federal Executive Council.
Basiru maintained that it was incompatible for Wike to remain in the cabinet of an APC-led government while allegedly creating confusion within the party’s structures.
“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,” Basiru said.
He further argued that Wike lacked the standing to meddle in the internal affairs of the APC, stressing that the minister was not a member of the party.
Read Also:
Wike Warns APC National Secretary Against Interfering in Rivers Affairs
Beyond Betrayal: The Real Politics Behind Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Calculated Move
APC Eyes Control of 30 States as Governor Yusuf Considers Defection
“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,” he stated.
Basiru also dismissed claims suggesting he had an interest in Rivers State funds, describing such allegations as baseless and inconsistent with his personal record.
“I take strong exception to the allusion that I am interested in the N600 billion allocations of Rivers State. My records of service are those of integrity and commitment. I am not an opportunist,” he said.
The APC national secretary emphasised that his responsibilities were nationwide and not limited to his home state of Osun, noting that his role required oversight of party affairs across the country.
“As the National Secretary of the APC, my activities are not confined to Osun State. I am the head of the National Secretariat of the party, and I have the authority to oversee party affairs nationwide,” Basiru said.
Wike’s Warning
Earlier on Monday, Wike had warned Basiru to steer clear of Rivers State politics, declaring the state a “no-go area” for political interference.
The warning was issued during the minister’s visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he accused some political actors of exploiting reports of N600 billion in the state’s coffers to make reckless statements about Rivers affairs.
Wike’s remarks followed comments attributed to the APC Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, who reportedly referred to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a “so-called governor” during visits to Khana and Gokana local government areas.
Reacting to Giadom’s comments, Basiru had described them as unfortunate, insisting that the office of a governor deserved respect regardless of political differences.
“The office of the governor is an exalted position, and whoever occupies it must be respected, irrespective of political differences,” Basiru had written in a Facebook post.
Basiru Responds
Responding to Wike’s warnings, Basiru insisted that his comments on Rivers APC affairs did not amount to interference in the governance of the state but were part of his constitutional duties as national secretary of the party.
“My responsibility is to protect the interests of the APC and all its members and structures. My comments regarding the affairs of the party in Rivers State cannot be construed as undue interference,” he said.
Basiru also rejected what he described as veiled threats from the FCT minister, stating that he would not be intimidated.
“My faith is in God, and I will not succumb to cheap threats. Minister Wike is not God and may be overplaying his political card,” he added.
He further maintained that Wike’s public support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not automatically translate to membership of the APC.
“Millions of Nigerians who are not members of the APC also support Mr President. His support does not make him a member of our party,” Basiru said.
The APC scribe warned that any attempt to destabilise the party in Rivers State would not be tolerated, adding that the APC would resist what he described as the importation of “PDP-style politics” into its structures.