APC National Secretary to Wike: I’m not an opportunist, resign and face your obsession with Rivers politics

Rather than thaw, the crisis between the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has deepened.
Wike had alleged that Basiru was supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State because of his (Basiru) interest in having a share of the state’s N600 billion windfall.
Wike, former governor of the oil-bearing state, also declared that he would not allow Fubara return to office in 2027.
But, Basiru would have none of that insult from Wike.
While defending his integrity, he said Wike should resign as minister and concentrate on “his obsession with Rivers politics”.
He said he was not worried by threats from Wike, noting that his political background and activism had prepared him to withstand intimidation.
To Basiru, Wike lacks the authority to interfere in the affairs of the ruling party, stressing that the minister “is not a member of APC”.
“My advice to him is that he should resign as Minister and face his obsession with Rivers politics.
“I have the authority to oversee APC affairs nationwide in my capacity as National Secretary.
“From my record, he (Wike) 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.
“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,” Basiru said.