By Onwe Wisdom I Pan Afric Reporters
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has launched a blistering attack on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, calling on him to “immediately resign his appointment as Minister” over what he described as persistent interference in the internal affairs of the ruling party, particularly in Rivers State.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, Basiru said his attention had been drawn to what he termed a “tirade” by Wike against his person and office, following his assertion that sitting governors remain the political leaders of the APC in their respective states.
“It is shocking that such an innocuous statement can elicit such uncouth responses from no less than a member of the Federal Executive Council,” Basiru said.
The APC scribe stressed that Wike lacked the standing to interfere in the affairs of the party, insisting that official party records show the FCT Minister is not a member of the APC.
“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 declared.
He maintained that, as National Secretary, he is constitutionally empowered to protect the interests of the party nationwide, dismissing claims that his comments amounted to undue interference in Rivers State politics.
“As National Secretary of the APC, I am imbued with the responsibility to protect the interests of the Party and all its members and structures,” he said, adding that his role “cannot be confined to my home state, Osun State.”
Basiru also reacted angrily to Wike’s alleged reference to a ₦600 billion largesse in Rivers State, describing the claim as “cheap blackmail.”
“This is nothing but cheap blackmail which has become his stock-in-trade,” he stated, while challenging the minister to substantiate the allegation. “My background and track-record are that of unquestionable integrity and I challenge him to prove his allegations or we may meet in court.”
Responding to what he described as veiled threats from the former Rivers State governor, Basiru said Wike was “overplaying his political card,” insisting he would not be intimidated.
“He is not God,” Basiru said, adding, “My faith is in God and I will not succumb to cheap threats such as the one from Wike.”
The APC National Secretary also took a swipe at Wike’s political history, saying, “I am one of the young Nigerians that confronted Military rule, fighting for democracy, when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight.”
Basiru further dismissed any suggestion that Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu automatically conferred APC membership on him.
“His support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not automatically make him a member of the APC,” he said. “Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr. President and his own is no different.”
He warned that attempts to destabilise the APC in Rivers State would not be tolerated, stressing that Wike “cannot bring the spirit of PDP into the APC.”
In a decisive conclusion, Basiru argued that it was inappropriate for a minister serving in an APC-led federal government to foment discord within the party.
“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,” he said.
“The honourable thing to do,” Basiru declared, “is to resign his appointment as Minister.”
The statement was signed by Senator Ajibola Basiru, Ph.D., BL, National Secretary, APC, setting the stage for what appears to be an escalating political confrontation within the ruling party’s power corridors.
