Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to resign his appointment and focus on what he described as an “obsession” with Rivers state politics.
In a statement on Monday, Basiru insisted that all members of the APC national working committee (NWC) must accord sitting governors due respect and recognise them as leaders of the party in their states.
Wike had earlier asked the APC national secretary to stay off Rivers politics.
Basiru described it as shocking that “such an innocuous statement” could provoke what he called “uncouth responses” from a member of the federal executive council (FEC).
He said records show that Wike is not a member of the APC and therefore “lacks the locus to dabble into the affairs” of the party.
Basiru said as national secretary of the APC, he is mandated to protect the interests of the party and its members nationwide.
“Hence, my comments on the affairs of the APC in Rivers state cannot be an undue interference in the affairs of Rivers state,” the statement reads.
Basiru said his responsibilities as national secretary are not limited to Osun, his home state.
He also rejected Wike’s reference to an alleged N600 billion largesse in Rivers state, describing it as “cheap blackmail”.
“My background and track record are that of unquestionable integrity, and I challenge him to prove his allegations, or we may meet in court,” Basiru said.
Reacting to what he described as veiled threats, Basiru said Wike was “not God” and might be “overplaying his political card”.
“My faith is in God, and I will not succumb to cheap threats such as the one from Wike,” he said.
Basiru said he was among young Nigerians who confronted military rule and fought for democracy “when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight”.
He said Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu does not automatically make him a member of the APC.
“Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr President, and his own is no different,” Basiru said.
He accused Wike of attempting to destabilise the APC in Rivers state, warning that such actions would not be tolerated.
“He cannot bring the spirit of the PDP into the APC,” Basiru added.
Basiru said it was improper for Wike to serve in the federal executive council of an APC government while causing confusion within the party’s structures.
“The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as minister,” he said.
