Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to resign his ministerial appointment if he intends to participate in Rivers State politics actively.

Mr Basiru also warned the former Rivers State governor to stop interfering in the APC’s internal affairs, stressing that Mr Wike is not a card-carrying member of the ruling party. 

In a statement personally signed on Monday, the APC scribe said it was inappropriate for a serving minister in an APC-led federal government to be deeply involved in partisan political battles at the state level, particularly while allegedly using the influence of his federal office.

“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,” Mr Basiru said.

His remarks followed Mr Wike’s warning over the weekend, asking the APC national secretary to steer clear of Rivers politics. 

The FCT minister issued the warning during a visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he accused some political actors, including Mr Basiru, of exploiting the N600 billion allegedly left in the state’s coffers and speaking recklessly about Rivers affairs.

But reacting, Mr Basiru dismissed the allegation as “cheap blackmail” and challenged Mr Wike to substantiate his claims.

“I take exception to Wike’s 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. I challenge him to prove his allegations, or we may meet in court,” he said.

The APC national secretary maintained that the party would not allow non-members to influence its internal affairs or dictate its political direction, especially in a strategic state like Rivers.

“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 of our Party. As the 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 regarding 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,” Mr Basiru stated.

He further emphasised that his role as national secretary empowers him to engage party matters nationwide, not just in his home state of Osun.

Mr Basiru also responded to what he described as veiled threats from Mr Wike, saying he would not be intimidated.

“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.”

He, however, stressed that Mr Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu does not confer APC membership on him.

“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 are 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,” Mr Basiru said.