Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has openly reaffirmed his full backing for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite the growing disagreement involving top figures of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gatekeepers News reports that Wike made the declaration in a post shared on X on Tuesday while continuing his political tours across local government areas in Rivers State.
The minister said his visits had earlier covered Oyigbo and Ogu-Bolo local government areas and would move next to Akuku-Toru and Degema.
Wike wrote, “Yesterday, we were in Oyigbo and Ogu-Bolo LGAs. Today, we will be in Akuku-Toru and Degema LGAs.”
“Here, it is local politics, and our support for Mr President is total.”
His comments came against the backdrop of a public rift with Ajibola Basiru, the national secretary of the APC. On Monday, Basiru asked Wike to resign his ministerial position and focus on what he described as an unhealthy fixation with Rivers politics.
The APC scribe made the demand after Wike warned him to stop meddling in political affairs in the state, saying his “hands will burn” if he continued.
The dispute intensified after Victor Giadom, APC South-South national vice-chairman, publicly sided with Wike in his face-off with Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State. Giadom said Wike remained central to the party’s electoral success in the state.
Giadom said, “To the so-called governor of Rivers state, to win anything in this state, you must go through Wike.”
Basiru reacted by criticising Giadom for what he called an insult to the Governor, warning party officials against such remarks.
He said, “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.”
“No matter what his allegiances are to anybody, it is unbecoming of somebody holding such a sensitive position, and it should not be encouraged by anybody.”
Wike, who saw Basiru’s comments as an attempt to take sides, responded sharply, cautioning the APC national secretary to stay away from Rivers politics.
He said, “Carrying your hands to Rivers state, if they burn, don’t say I burnt it. I can challenge anybody; this state is a no-go area, whether you like it or not. Don’t dare. So, stop making unnecessary comments.”
The ongoing political tension has placed Wike at odds with some APC leaders, especially following his opposition to Governor Fubara’s re-election bid. Wike began openly campaigning against Fubara after the Governor defected from PDP to the APC in December.
The FCT minister has also dismissed earlier praise of Fubara by the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who said President Tinubu was pleased with the Governor’s performance.
Wike has repeatedly accused Fubara of breaking the agreement they both reached before Tinubu lifted the emergency rule previously imposed on Rivers State.
