‘Resign or stop meddling’: APC, Wike in fierce showdown over Rivers, Fubara

A fierce political confrontation erupted on Monday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the deepening crisis in Rivers State and the status of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The clash followed a demand by the APC national secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, that Wike should either stop interfering in the party’s internal affairs or resign from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

In a sharply worded statement issued in Abuja, Basiru accused the FCT minister of attempting to destabilise the APC, insisting that it was contradictory for Wike to sit in the Federal Executive Council of an APC-led government while allegedly sowing discord within the party.

“He cannot be in the Federal Executive Council of an APC government and be causing confusion within any organ or structure of the party. The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as minister,” Basiru said.

The APC scribe said his comments were prompted by Wike’s attacks on him after he cautioned party leaders to respect sitting governors, describing them as leaders of the party in their respective states.

Basiru said he was shocked that what he called an innocuous statement could provoke “uncouth responses from no less than a member of the Federal Executive Council.”

He further argued that Wike had no locus to meddle in APC affairs, stressing that party records showed the former Rivers governor was not a member of the ruling party.

“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,” he said.

Wike fires back

Earlier on Monday, Wike had warned Basiru to keep off Rivers State politics, declaring the state a “no-go area” for external political interference.

The minister issued the warning during a thank-you visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, where he accused some politicians of exploiting claims of about ₦600 billion in the state’s coffers to speak recklessly about Rivers affairs.

The warning followed comments by the APC national vice chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, who had referred to Governor Fubara as “the so-called governor” and suggested that he could not secure a second term without Wike’s support.

Basiru had earlier described Giadom’s remarks as unfortunate, insisting that the office of governor deserved respect regardless of political differences.

In a Facebook post, the APC national secretary said it was wrong for any member of the party’s National Working Committee to describe a sitting governor in such terms, stressing that the office was an exalted one.

Angered by the intervention, Wike cautioned Basiru against what he described as meddling in Rivers affairs.

“Tell your national secretary to leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have tried it before. Don’t take our support for Mr President for granted,” Wike said.

“This state is a no-go area. Take the one you have taken and stop making unnecessary comments. If your hand burns, don’t say it was me,” he added.

He maintained that Rivers people freely decided to support President Bola Tinubu in 2023, despite receiving little backing from others at the time.

Basiru counters again

Responding, Basiru said his role as national secretary empowered him to speak on party matters across the country, dismissing claims that he was overstepping his bounds.

“As national secretary, my responsibility is not limited to Osun State. Protecting the interests of the party nationwide cannot amount to undue interference,” he said.

He also rejected Wike’s allegation that APC leaders were scrambling for a purported ₦600 billion in Rivers State, describing it as baseless and defamatory.

Basiru warned that Wike’s veiled threats would not intimidate him, insisting that the minister was overestimating his political influence.

He further stressed that Wike’s public support for President Tinubu did not translate into APC membership, noting that many non-APC Nigerians also backed the president.

“His attempt to destabilise the APC in Rivers State will not be tolerated. He cannot import the spirit of the PDP into the APC,” Basiru said.