The political crisis rocking Rivers State took a dramatic turn Monday as the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru,called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to immediately resign his ministerial appointment.
Basiru accused Wike of attempting to destabilise the APC in Rivers State despite not being a registered member of the ruling party.
In a scathing six-point statement issued in Abuja, the APC National Secretary said it was improper for Wike to serve in the Federal Executive Council of an APC government while “causing confusion within any organ or structure of the Party at any level.”
“The honourable thing to do is to resign his appointment as Minister,” Basiru declared.
The confrontation between the two political heavyweights stems from Basiru’s recent assertion that all members of the APC National Working Committee must accord sitting governors their due respect, emphasising that governors remain the leaders of the party in their respective states.
The statement, widely interpreted as support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, drew sharp criticism from Wike, who accused Basiru of interfering in Rivers State affairs.
Responding to Wike’s tirade, Basiru said: “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.”
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He added that as National Secretary of the APC, his responsibility to protect party interests and structures extends beyond his home state of Osun.
The APC National Secretary took particular exception to Wike’s reference to an alleged N600 billion largesse in Rivers State, which APC leaders were purportedly scrambling for.
“This is nothing but cheap blackmail which has become his stock-in-trade,” Basiru said, challenging Wike to prove his allegations or face legal action.
Describing his background and track record as one of “unquestionable integrity,” Basiru dismissed what he called Wike’s “veiled threat,” saying: “Let me remind Wike that he is not God and may be overplaying his political card.”
The former Osun Central Senator recalled his activism against military rule, adding: “I am one of the young Nigerians that confronted Military rule, fighting for democracy, when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight.”
Wike, 57, remains one of Nigeria’s most powerful and controversial political figures. He served two terms as Rivers State Governor from 2015 to 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, before his appointment as FCT Minister by President Bola Tinubu.
His appointment followed his role in the G-5 group of PDP governors who worked against their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 elections—a move widely believed to have aided Tinubu’s victory.
Despite serving in an APC-led federal government, Wike has not formally joined the APC, creating what many observers describe as an unprecedented political anomaly.
The current tensions are rooted in the deteriorating relationship between Wike and his successor, Governor Fubara, whom he backed for the governorship in 2023.
What began as a godfather-godson relationship quickly descended into a bitter political feud, with battles over control of party structures, the state House of Assembly, local government councils, and state resources.
In October 2023, the Rivers State House of Assembly, dominated by Wike loyalists, moved to impeach Fubara, prompting President Tinubu to broker a peace deal. However, the truce collapsed, and by late 2024, most of the pro-Wike legislators defected from the PDP to the APC.
The complex political realignment has left the APC in an awkward position: a PDP member serving as a federal minister in an APC government while attempting to control APC structures in Rivers State, even as the sitting PDP governor receives support from some APC national leaders.
Basiru emphasised that Wike’s support for President Tinubu does not automatically confer APC membership upon him.
“Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr. President and his own is no different,” he said. “His attempt to destabilise our Party in Rivers State will not be tolerated and he cannot bring the spirit of PDP into the APC.”
Political analysts say the public confrontation between Basiru and Wike reflects growing discomfort within sections of the APC about the minister’s influence over party affairs.
Dr. Akinwale Omoboriowo, a political scientist at the University of Lagos, described the situation as “a constitutional absurdity.”
“You have a PDP member wielding enormous federal power through the FCT Ministry, attempting to control APC structures in a state governed by a PDP governor. It’s unprecedented in our political history,” Omoboriowo said.
The development also raises questions about President Tinubu’s position, as he must now balance loyalty to Wike—a key ally who helped secure his 2023 victory—with the concerns of party leaders and structures.
As at press time, Wike had not issued an official response to Basiru’s call for his resignation. However, sources close to the minister described the demand as “the ranting of political lightweights seeking relevance.”
Known for his combative political style and his close relationship with President Tinubu, Wike is unlikely to heed calls for resignation without a direct order from the President.
With the 2027 elections approaching and billions of naira in federal allocations and contracts at stake, the Rivers State political crisis shows no signs of abating.
For now, all eyes are on Aso Rock, where President Tinubu must decide whether to rein in his powerful minister or allow the political warfare to continue.
Crediblenewsng.com
