Resign as Minister and Face Rivers Politics, APC National Secretary Tells Wike

Eshioromeh Sebastian in Abuja

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 immediately resign from the Federal Executive Council and focus on his political preoccupation with Rivers State.

The call forms part of a rebuttal issued by Senator Basiru on Monday, January 5, in response to a public warning from the Minister.

The escalating war of words between the dou has laid bare deepening tensions within the political landscape of Rivers State and its intersection with national party politics.

The confrontation began when Senator Basiru, in a Facebook post on Sunday, described as “unfortunate” a statement by the APC’s Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom.

Spear News reports that Giadom had referred to Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara as “the so-called Governor” and claimed he could not secure a second term without Wike’s support. Basiru asserted that “the office of the governor is an exalted position, and whoever is occupying it must be respected.”

Wike, during a thank-you visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area on Monday, fired back directly at the APC National Secretary. He accused some APC figures of benefiting financially from Rivers State and issued a warning:

“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. I say it here, take this message to your National Secretary, leave Rivers State alone.”

However, in a counter statement titled “NYESOM WIKE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RESIGN AS MINISTER AND FACE HIS OBSESSION WITH RIVERS POLITICS,” Senator Basiru mounted a multi pronged defense and counter offensive.

He declared it “shocking” that his call for respect for governors elicited “uncouth responses” from a minister.

He said: “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 vehemently denied Wike’s insinuations about a “N600 billion largesse,” labeling it “cheap blackmail” and challenging the Minister to prove his allegations or face legal action. “My background, track-record is that of unquestionable integrity,” he stated.

The APC Secretary also dismissed Wike’s “veiled threat,” asserting his own pro-democracy credentials from the military era and stating, “My faith is in God and will not succumb to cheap threats.”

Crucially, Basiru drew a clear line between support for President Bola Tinubu and party membership.

“Let me also remind Nyesom Wike that his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, does not automatically make him a member of the APC. His attempt to destabilise our Party in Rivers State will not be tolerated and he cannot bring the spirit of PDP into the APC,” he wrote.

The statement culminated in the direct call for resignation: “Finally, my advice to Nyesom Wike is that 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.”