* Ajibola Bashiru
The Pathfinder
Tuesday January 6, 2026
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The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Ajibola Basiru, has warned the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike to stop interfering in the affairs of Rivers State APC as record has shown he is not a member of the party.
In a statement on Monday, Basiru who advised Wike to resign and face his “obsession” with Rivers State politcs, said the minister lacked the authority to interfere in the affairs of the ruling party, as a non-party member.
He further stated, “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 our Party.
“And as 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,” the statement read.
The APC national scribe while advising Wike to resign his appointment as FCT minister given to him by APC-led government, stated further, “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.”
Basiru had earlier stated that all members of the NWC must accord any sitting Governor his due respect and that the Governors remain the leaders of the Party in their States.
“It is shocking that such an innocuous statement can elicit such uncouth responses from no less than a member of the Federal Executive Council,” he said.
Wike had accused APC National Secretary of supporting the reelection bid of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike had said, “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.”
But Basiru said, ” I also take exception to Wike 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. My background, track-record is that of unquestionable intergrity and I challenge him to prove his allegations or we may meet in court.
” 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 is 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.
” Finally, 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.”
‘If your hand burns, no be me burn am o. This state is a no-go area’ — Wike tells APC scribe
Earlier Wike, had warned the APC national scribe, Basiru, to leave Rivers State alone so as not to burn his hand describing Rivers as a-no-go area.
Wike gave the warning during his “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, alleging that the APC had received some funds from the N600 billion sum left in the state’s coffers.
According to Punch report, the APC Vice Chairman (South-South) had described Governor Siminalayi Fubara as “the so-called Governor” during the minister’s visit to Khana/Gokana Local Government Area.
He further said that Fubara could not win a second term in the state without going through Wike.
However, Basiru described Giadom’s remarks as “unfortunate,” stating that Fubara’s position as governor, in spite of political affiliations, should command respect.
“I find it unfortunate that a member of the NWC…was referring to a governor in our party as a ‘so-called governor of Rivers State’.
“The office of the governor is an exalted position, and whoever is occupying it must be respected, irrespective of whatever political differences you have,” Basiru said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
In response, Wike challenged the party leader, warning that the state was a “no-go area.”
He further asked the secretary to learn from those who previously tried to meddle in Rivers State politics, stating that he could not blame anyone if his hands got burnt.
“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.
“Today, you are enjoying in Osun, you don’t know those who did the work. You are opening your mouth to talk about Rivers State. Anything you see, take it.
“Go and ask other people what has happened to them before. If your hand burns, no be me burn am o. This state is a no-go area. Take the one you have taken, stop making unnecessary comments.”
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