Wike, Ruling Party’s National Scribe Clash Over Rivers Politics

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike and  National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru clashed yesterday over the unfolding political intrigues in Rivers State.

Wike warned Basiru to leave Rivers State politics alone, urging him to be careful with statements he makes.

In response, Basiru urged the FCT minister to resign his ministerial position and face what he described as “his obsession with Rivers politics.”

The barb between Wike and Basiru followed the APC national scribe’s chastise of the APC Vice Chairman (South-South) for describing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently joined APC as “the so-called Governor” during the minister’s visit to Khana/Gokana local government area.

In response, Wike, during a “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo local government area of Rivers State, told Basiru that Rivers State is a “no-go area,” just as he alleged that the APC had received some funds from the N600 billion left in the state’s coffers.

The minister further asked the secretary to learn from those who tried to meddle in Rivers State politics, stating that he could not blame anyone if his hands got burnt.

“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. Don’t take our support for Mr President for granted. You have to be careful with statements you make.

“Today, you are enjoying in Osun, you don’t know those who did the work. You are opening your mouth to talk about Rivers State. Anything you see, take it.

“Go and ask other people what has happened to them 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,” he said.

In a response, Basiru said his office as national secretary, give him the responsibility to protect the interests of the party and all its members and structures.

Basiru said his comments regarding the affairs of the APC in Rivers State cannot be an undue interference, insisting that as national secretary, his activities cannot be confined to his home state of Osun.

The APC chief scribe, in a statement, told Wike 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.

Basiru said it is shocking that his innocuous statement on the need to accord the governor respect elicited “such uncouth responses from no less than a member of the Federal Executive Council.”

He added, “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 regarding 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.

“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.

“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.

“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,” he said.