Resign as FCT Minister, APC Secretary Basiru Tells Wike

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to resign from his cabinet position, accusing him of interfering in the internal affairs of the ruling party.

Basiru’s demand followed comments made earlier by Wike during a thank-you visit to supporters in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, where the minister warned the APC national secretary to “leave Rivers State alone.”

Wike described the state as a “no-go area” for what he termed external political interference, cautioned against taking his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granted, and alleged that some APC leaders were seeking access to an alleged ₦600 billion left in the state’s coffers.

Reacting in a statement issued in Osogbo, Osun State, Basiru described Wike’s remarks as inappropriate and said they were triggered by his insistence that sitting governors deserve respect within party structures, regardless of political differences, including Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“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,” Basiru said.

“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.”

Basiru said Wike, whom he noted is not a member of the APC, lacks the standing to intervene in the party’s internal matters.

“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 of our Party,” he said.

He maintained that his comments on Rivers APC affairs did not amount to interference, stressing that his role as national secretary covers party activities across the country.

“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,” Basiru stated.

Addressing Wike’s allegation that APC leaders were scrambling for a ₦600 billion “largesse,” Basiru rejected the claim and challenged the minister to substantiate it.

“This is nothing but cheap blackmail which has become his stock-in-trade. My background, track-record is that of unquestionable integrity and I challenge him to prove his allegations or we may meet in court,” he said.

Basiru also dismissed what he described as veiled threats from the FCT minister.

“Let me remind Wike that he is not God and may be overplaying his political card… I will not succumb to cheap threats,” he said, referencing his past involvement in pro-democracy activism.

He further argued that Wike’s support for President Tinubu does not confer APC membership.

“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,” Basiru said.

Concluding his response, the APC national secretary said “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.“