A fierce political confrontation erupted on Tuesday as the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, openly challenged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, demanding his immediate resignation from the Federal Executive Council over alleged interference in APC affairs.
Basiru’s hard-hitting response followed Wike’s earlier warning for him to “leave Rivers State alone” and keep off its political space. Speaking during a thank-you visit to supporters in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Wike declared the state a “no-go area” for external interference, cautioned APC leaders against taking his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granted, and alleged that some party figures were scrambling for an alleged N600 billion “largesse” in the state. He warned that political meddlers could “burn their hands,” citing past consequences.
Reacting swiftly in a statement issued from Osogbo, Osun State, Basiru described Wike’s remarks as a “tirade” and “uncouth,” insisting that his own comments were rooted in principle and party order, not provocation.
The statement reads:
> “My attention has been drawn to the tirade of the Minister of the FCT against my person and my office as the National Secretary of the APC. This is as regards my position that all members of the NWC must accord any sitting Governor his due respect and that the Governors remain the leaders of the Party in their 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 stressed that Wike lacks the standing to meddle in APC matters, maintaining that the former Rivers governor is not a card-carrying member of the ruling party.
> “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 our Party. And 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. Hence, my comments on the affairs of the APC in Rivers State CANNOT be an undue interference in the affairs of Rivers State. As National Secretary, my activities cannot be confined to my home state, Osun State.”
The APC scribe also fired back at Wike’s allegation of an N600 billion inducement, describing it as blackmail and throwing down a legal challenge.
> “I also take exception to Wike reference to a certain N600 billion largesse in the State for which I and other APC leaders are scrambling. This is nothing but cheap blackmail which has become his stock-in-trade. My background, track-record is that of unquestionable intergrity and I challenge him to prove his allegations or we may meet in court.”
Addressing what he termed a veiled threat, Basiru warned Wike against overestimating his political influence.
> “As to his veiled threat against me, let me remind WIKE that he is not God and may be overplaying his political card. My faith is in God and will not succumb to cheap threats such as the one from WIKE. 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 claims that Wike’s support for President Tinubu automatically confers APC membership on him.
> “Let me also remind Nyesom Wike that his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, does not automatically make him a member of the APC. Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr. President and his own is no different. 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 concluded with a blunt ultimatum, insisting that Wike must choose between remaining in the APC-led government or stepping aside.
> “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.”