The Alubarika Movement has cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against drawing the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Ajibola Basiru, into the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.

In a statement issued in Osogbo by its Chairman, Alhaji Kehinde Olamolu, the movement threw its weight behind Basiru, insisting that his comments calling for respect for the Governor of Rivers State were well within his constitutional role as the APC National Secretary.

The group described Wike’s remarks against Basiru as unnecessary and unprovoked, stressing that Basiru acted strictly in line with his party responsibilities.

Reacting to Wike’s claim that Basiru was merely benefiting from the efforts of others, the Alubarika Movement clarified that Basiru was a member of the legal team that secured victory for the Action Congress in 2010, leading to the removal of the Peoples Democratic Party government in Osun State.

“Dr Ajibola Basiru is not a political minnow. He served Osun State diligently as a two-term Commissioner and represented Osun Central Senatorial District in the 9th Senate. His contributions have earned him respect in national political discourse,” the statement said.

The movement further noted that Basiru’s emergence as APC National Secretary has strengthened the party, citing the growing influx of governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and other political heavyweights into the party.

It added that if Basiru had approached politics the way Wike allegedly does, Osun APC would have been thrown into chaos during the process of producing its governorship candidate ahead of the recent election.

Responding to Wike’s alleged threat that Basiru would “burn his fingers,” the group described the APC scribe as scandal-free, with an impeccable academic and professional record.

“Dr Basiru has no political scandal hanging over him. His academic records at the University of Lagos and the Nigerian Law School are spotless,” the statement added.

The Alubarika Movement urged Wike to concentrate on his responsibilities as FCT Minister and refrain from interfering in APC affairs, noting that he is not a member of the party.

It recalled that the late Chief Bola Ige served as a minister under a PDP-led government without meddling in the party’s internal matters.

The group advised Wike to consider stepping back from partisan conflicts to focus on resolving internal challenges within the PDP.