Resign as FCT Minister now: APC national secretary fires back at Wike

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has fired back at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, asking him to resign his appointment and concentrate on what he described as an “obsession” with Rivers State politics.

In a statement issued on Monday, Basiru maintained that members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) are duty-bound to accord sitting governors the respect due to them and recognise them as leaders of the party in their respective states.

His reaction followed Wike’s earlier comment in which the FCT minister warned the APC national secretary to stay away from Rivers State political affairs.

Basiru said he was surprised that what he termed “such an innocuous statement” could trigger what he described as “uncouth responses” from a serving member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

According to him, available records show that Wike is not a member of the APC and therefore “lacks the locus to dabble into the affairs” of the ruling party.

Basiru stressed that his position as national secretary comes with the responsibility of safeguarding the interests of the APC and its members across the country.

“Hence, my comments on the affairs of the APC in Rivers state cannot be an undue interference in the affairs of Rivers state,” he said.

He further explained that his duties as national secretary are national in scope and not limited to Osun State, his home state.

Basiru also dismissed Wike’s reference to an alleged N600 billion largesse in Rivers State, describing the claim 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.

Responding to what he characterised 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 added.

The APC chieftain further stated that he was among young Nigerians who stood up to military rule and fought for democracy “when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight”.

Basiru also rejected the suggestion that Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu automatically qualifies him as a member of the APC.

“Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr President, and his own is no different,” he said.

He accused the FCT minister of working 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 concluded by stating that it was inappropriate for Wike to remain a member of the Federal Executive Council under an APC-led government while allegedly creating confusion within the party’s internal structures.

“The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as minister,” he said.