The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, cautioning him to stay away from Rivers State politics.
Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, delivered the warning on Monday, January 5, during a thank-you visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state. Addressing supporters, the former governor accused some political actors of making reckless and provocative statements about Rivers State because of the reported ₦600 billion left in the state’s coffers.
Speaking in a mix of English and pidgin, Wike made it clear that Rivers politics is not open for external interference. “If your hand burns, no be me burn am. Leave Rivers alone,” he warned, stressing that those who ignore his advice may face serious consequences.
The warning follows recent comments by APC Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, who at a public forum referred to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as “the so-called governor” and claimed that Fubara could not secure a second term without Wike’s backing.
Basiru, reacting to Giadom’s remarks via a Facebook post, condemned the statement, describing it as unfortunate and unbecoming of a member of the APC National Working Committee. He insisted that the office of a sitting governor deserves respect regardless of political affiliations or personal loyalties.
“I find it unfortunate that a member of the NWC, who is the Vice Chairman of the South-South zone of the APC, was referring to a governor in our party as a ‘so-called governor of Rivers State’,” Basiru wrote. “No matter his allegiances, such language should not be encouraged.”
Wike, however, appeared displeased by Basiru’s intervention and fired back, warning the APC national secretary to desist from commenting on or meddling in Rivers State affairs. He described Rivers as a political “no-go area” for outsiders and urged Basiru to learn from the experiences of others who had previously attempted to interfere in the state’s politics.
The development adds another layer to the ongoing political tension in Rivers State, as alignments and rivalries ahead of future elections continue to draw national attention.
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