The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, has hit back at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, urging him to step down from his ministerial role and concentrate on what he termed an unhealthy fixation on Rivers State politics.
While berating the Minister, Basiru told Wike that his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu doesn’t make him an automatic member of the party.
Wike had during his thank-you visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, warned Basiru to steer clear of Rivers State politics, cautioning him against making careless and provocative statements about the state, and also alleging that some political actors had taken advantage of the N600 billion reportedly left in the state’s coffers and were now speaking recklessly about Rivers affairs.
“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. Go and ask those who have done it before. Please don’t take our support for Mr President for granted. You have to be careful with the statements you make.”
Responding to the remarks, Basiru said that his position as National Secretary of the party places on him the duty to safeguard the interests of the APC, its members, and its structures. He stressed that Wike is not a member of the party and therefore has no standing to interfere in its internal affairs.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Abuja, the APC scribe said Wike was overestimating his political influence, noting that intimidation and blackmail were tactics often associated with him. He added that Wike was not infallible and should not act as though he were above reproach.
Basiru said, “My attention has been drawn to the outburst by the Minister of the FCT against my person and my office as National Secretary of the APC, following my position that members of the NWC must accord due respect to sitting governors, who remain the leaders of the party in their respective states. It is surprising that such a harmless statement could provoke such crude reactions from a serving member of the Federal Executive Council.”
“I also take exception to Wike’s 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.
“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.
“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.” Basiru said
