Resign and face Rivers politics – APC scribe tells Wike

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has responded sharply to comments by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, urging 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 intimidated by what he characterised as indirect threats from the former Rivers State governor, noting that his political history had equipped him to resist intimidation.

The APC scribe had earlier, in an exclusive interview with *Sunday PUNCH*, openly backed Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the lingering political tension between the governor and Wike.

He also warned the APC’s South-South Zonal Chairman, Victor Giadom, against making disparaging comments about Fubara or any sitting governor, stressing 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 against involving himself in Rivers politics.

‎“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 his reaction, contained in a statement personally signed on Monday, Basiru argued that Wike lacked the standing to meddle in the affairs of the ruling party, pointing out 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,” Basiru stated.

He further insisted that, as National Secretary, he was constitutionally empowered to manage the affairs of the APC nationwide.

‎“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 insinuations that he had an interest in Rivers State’s funds, describing such claims as unfounded and inconsistent with his public service 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.