The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, PhD, BL, has issued a strong rebuttal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of interfering in the internal affairs of the APC and calling on him to immediately resign from the Federal Executive Council.
In a statement released on Monday, Senator Basiru described Wike’s recent comments against him and the APC leadership as “uncouth, unwarranted and politically reckless.”
“It is shocking that such an innocuous statement that Governors remain the leaders of the Party in their respective states could provoke such a tirade from a member of the Federal Executive Council,” Basiru said.
‘Wike Has No Locus in APC Affairs’
Basiru stressed that official party records clearly show that Wike is not a member of the APC, and therefore lacks the locus standi to interfere in its internal matters, particularly in Rivers State.
“As National Secretary of the APC, I am constitutionally bound to protect the interests of the Party, its members and its structures across the country. My responsibility is not confined to Osun State alone,” he stated.
Reacting to Wike’s allegation that he and other APC leaders were scrambling for a so-called ₦600 billion Rivers State largesse, Basiru dismissed the claim as “cheap blackmail.”
“My public life and political record speak for themselves. I challenge Wike to provide evidence of his allegations or we shall meet in court,” he declared.
The APC scribe also responded to what he described as veiled threats from the FCT Minister, insisting that intimidation would not work.
“Wike is not God. I am one of the young Nigerians who confronted military rule and fought for democracy when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight. My faith is in God and I will not succumb to cheap political threats.”
Basiru further clarified that Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not automatically confer APC membership on him.
“Millions of Nigerians who are not members of the APC support Mr President. Wike’s support does not make him different. He cannot import the culture and spirit of the PDP into the APC,” he warned.
In his concluding remarks, Senator Basiru said it was morally and politically wrong for Wike to serve in an APC-led Federal Government while actively creating instability within the ruling party.
“The honourable thing for Nyesom Wike to do is to resign his appointment as Minister if he insists on causing confusion within the APC using the leverage of that same office.”
