The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has responded sharply to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, calling on him to step down from his ministerial role and concentrate on what he described as an unhealthy fixation on Rivers State politics.
Basiru said he was not disturbed by what he referred to as subtle threats from the minister, stressing that his political experience had equipped him to withstand intimidation.
In an earlier interview with PUNCH, the APC chieftain had openly backed Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid the lingering political rift between the governor and Wike.
He also warned the APC South-South Chairman, Victor Giadom, against making disparaging remarks about Fubara or any other governor, noting that members of the party’s National Working Committee should remain neutral in political disputes.
However, during a “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday, Wike cautioned Basiru to stay out of the state’s political 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.”
In a statement personally signed on Monday, Basiru fired back, insisting that Wike had no right to meddle in the internal matters of the ruling party, emphasising that the minister was not a member of the APC.
“My advice to him is that he should resign as Minister and face his obsession with Rivers politics,”
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Basiru further argued that, contrary to Wike’s assumptions, his role as national secretary empowered him to supervise the party’s affairs nationwide.
He said,“From my record, he isn’t a member of APC. I don’t see which authority or temerity he has to be dabbling into APC affairs.
“I am the National Secretary of APC and I don’t see any basis for him to be making comments about my activities either in Rivers State or in any part of Nigeria.
“As the National Secretary of the party, my activities aren’t confined to Osun State, contrary to his wrong impression.
“I am the head of the National Secretariat of the APC. So, he has no locus whatsoever to engage me in any political activity that concerns the APC until he joins the party.”
Basiru also rejected claims suggesting he had an interest in Rivers State’s funds, describing the allegation as unfounded and inconsistent with his track record.
“I take strong exceptions to his allusion that I am interested in the N600 billion allocations of Rivers State. My records of service are those of integrity and commitment to service. I am not an opportunist and I have never shied away from taking principled positions on any matter, no matter whose ox is gored.
“I am one of the young Nigerians that confronted military dictatorship. I can’t be bullied by anybody, no matter how highly placed. My records as National Secretary are above board and I can’t be queried by somebody who isn’t a member of APC,” he said.
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