The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has issued a warning to the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, to steer clear of Rivers State’s political affairs.
The warning came during Wike’s “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area on Monday.
The confrontation stems from recent comments by the APC’s Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, who referred to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as “the so-called Governor” and claimed Fubara could not secure a second term without Wike’s support.
In a rebuttal on Sunday, Basiru described Giadom’s statement as “unfortunate,” emphasizing that the governor’s office commands respect regardless of political differences. “The office of the governor is an exalted position, and whoever is occupying it must be respected,” Basiru stated in a Facebook post.
Wike, however, challenged Basiru directly, alleging that some APC figures had benefited financially from the state. “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 declared.
He continued with a pointed message: “I say it here, take this message to your National Secretary, leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have done it 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.”
Meanwhile, at the same event, the Renewed Hope Ambassador for Rivers State, Desmond Akawor, lamented the stagnation of development in Oyigbo since Governor Fubara’s inauguration. Akawor appealed for the community to receive its fair share of the reported N600 billion left in the state’s coffers.
“Development in Oyigbo has stalled. We have not moved an inch forward… If N40 billion was allocated across groups, Oyigbo must not be shortchanged. We are not asking for favours; we are asking for fairness,” Akawor asserted.
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