- Safiu Kehinde
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, has fired back at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, warning the former Rivers governor not to be bring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
NPO earlier Reported that Wike had sent a note of warning to Basiru over his interference with Rivers’ politics.
Wike in his address to his supporters at Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Wike charged the APC National Secretary not to take the state’s support of President Bola Tinubu for granted.
He warned of severe consequences if Basiru continues to meddle with the affairs of the state following his APC National leader’s criticism of the party’s Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, who referred the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as a “so-called governor.”
Reacting to the minister’s warning, Basiru hit hard on Wike while defending his criticism of Giadom.
The APC National Secretary, in a statement issued on Monday evening, maintained that Wike is not a member of the APC and as such lacks the locus to dabble into the party’s affairs.
He affirmed that he has the authority to interfere in the affairs of the APC in Rivers state.
“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.
“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.
“It is shocking that such an innocuous statement can elicit such uncouth responses from no less than a member of the Federal Executive Council.
“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 our Party.
“And 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 in the affairs of Rivers State. As National Secretary, my activities cannot be confined to my home state, Osun State.” Basiru said.
Basiru further labelled Wike as part of the millions of non-APC Nigerians supporting Tinubu as he held that his support of the President does not automatically make him a member of the party.
The APC National Secretary charged the minister to resign his appointment as Minister, stressing that he cannot be in the Federal Executive Council of an APC Government and be causing confusion within the organ or structure of the party.
He held that the party’s leadership will not allow him to bring the destabilising spirit of the PDP to the APC.
“Let me also remind Nyesom Wike that 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. His attempt to destabilise our Party in Rivers State will not be tolerated and he cannot bring the spirit of PDP into the APC.
“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.” He said.
The APC National Secretary also accused Wike of blackmail with his reference to the N600 billion largesse which the Rivers former governor accused Basiru of benefitting from.
While challenging Wike to prove his allegations, Basiru dismissed the FCT Minister’s threat against him.
“I also take exception to Wike reference to a certain N600 billion largesse in the State for which I and other APC leaders are scrambling.
“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.
“As to his veiled threat against me, let me remind WIKE that he is not God and may be overplaying his political card. My faith is in God and will not succumb to cheap threats such as the one from WIKE.
“I am one of the young Nigerians that confronted Military rule, fighting for democracy, when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight.” Basiru said.