Resign Ministerial position, face Rivers politics – APC fires at Nyesom Wike

Resign Ministerial position, face Rivers politics – APC fires at Nyesom Wike

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Bashiru, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to resign his ministerial appointment, accusing him of interfering in the internal affairs of the ruling party and attempting to destabilise its structure in Rivers State.

In a statement on Monday, January 5, Bashiru reacted to what he described as a “tirade” by Wike against him and his office, following Bashiru’s remarks that sitting governors should be accorded due respect and recognised as leaders of the party in their respective states.

Bashiru said he was surprised that what he termed an “innocuous statement” could provoke what he described as an uncivil response from a member of the Federal Executive Council.

“For the avoidance of doubt, our records indicate that Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of the APC and therefore lacks the standing to dabble into the affairs of our party,” Bashiru said.

He stressed that, as National Secretary, he has a constitutional responsibility to protect the interests of the APC and its structures nationwide, including in Rivers State.

He rejected suggestions that his comments amounted to interference in the governance of Rivers State, adding that his duties as National Secretary are not limited to his home state of Osun.

Bashiru also dismissed allegations attributed to Wike that he and other APC leaders were scrambling for a purported N600 billion largesse in Rivers State, describing the claim as “cheap blackmail.”

He maintained that his personal and public record reflected “unquestionable integrity” and challenged Wike to substantiate the allegation or face legal action.

Responding to what he described as veiled threats from the minister, Bashiru said he would not be intimidated, noting his past involvement in pro-democracy struggles during the military era.

“My faith is in God, and I will not succumb to cheap threats,” he stated.

The APC scribe further argued that Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not confer APC membership on him, noting that many Nigerians who are not members of the party also support the president.

He accused the minister of attempting to import “the spirit of the PDP” into the APC and warned that efforts to destabilise the party in Rivers State would not be tolerated.

Bashiru concluded by advising Wike to either refrain from using his ministerial position to influence APC structures or take what he described as the “honourable option” of resigning from the Federal Executive Council.