Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has hit back at Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), urging him to resign his ministerial position and concentrate on what he described as his obsession with Rivers State politics.
Basiru said he was unfazed by what he termed veiled threats from the minister, noting that his political background had prepared him to withstand intimidation.
In a statement on Sunday, Basiru declared support for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the ongoing political confrontation between him and Wike.
He also warned Victor Giadom, the APC’s south-south chairman, against making derogatory remarks about Fubara or any other governor, stressing that members of the party’s national working committee should not take sides in political crises.
However, during a “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday, Wike cautioned Basiru to steer clear of Rivers politics.
He said, “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.”
Responding in a statement personally signed on Monday, Basiru said Wike lacked the authority to interfere in the affairs of the ruling party, stressing 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 said.
He maintained that, contrary to Wike’s impression, he had the authority to oversee APC affairs nationwide in his capacity as national secretary.
He said, “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 dismissed claims suggesting he had an interest in Rivers State funds, describing them as baseless and inconsistent with his 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.