ABUJA/Nigeria: The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has sharply rebuked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over what he described as an unwarranted tirade against his person and office, insisting that the minister lacks the standing to interfere in the internal affairs of the ruling party.
Basiru, in a strongly worded statement, said his position that sitting governors must be accorded due respect as leaders of the party in their respective states was a routine and innocuous clarification of party tradition, expressing shock that such a statement could provoke what he termed “uncouth responses” from a member of the Federal Executive Council.
He stated that available party records clearly show that Wike is not a member of the APC and therefore has no locus to dabble into its affairs. According to him, his comments on developments within the APC in Rivers State were part of his constitutional duty as National Secretary to protect the interests of the party, its members and structures nationwide, stressing that his responsibilities are not limited to his home state of Osun.
The APC scribe also dismissed Wike’s reference to an alleged N600 billion largesse in Rivers State, describing it as cheap blackmail and challenging the FCT minister to provide proof of the allegation or be prepared to defend it in court. He said his public life and political career are anchored on integrity and accountability.
Reacting to what he described as veiled threats, Basiru said Wike was overplaying his political hand, noting that his faith was in God and not in intimidation. He recalled his long-standing pro-democracy activism, stating that he was among Nigerians who confronted military rule in the struggle for democracy at a time when, according to him, Wike was not in the picture.
Basiru further argued that Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not translate to APC membership, stressing that millions of Nigerians who are not members of the ruling party also support the President. He warned that attempts to destabilise the APC in Rivers State or import what he called “the spirit of the PDP” into the party would not be tolerated.
He concluded by advising the FCT minister that it was improper to serve in the Federal Executive Council of an APC-led government while allegedly fomenting confusion within the party’s organs and structures, insisting that the honourable option open to Wike, if he could not separate governance from partisan interference, was to resign his ministerial appointment.
