The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Ajibola Bashiru has said that his comments on the status of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State was in order.

Clarifying the status of the Governor, who recently defected to APC, the Secretary said that all members of the party, including members of the National Working Committee (NWC) must accord any sitting Governor due respect and  Governors remain the leaders of the party in their States.

But Bashiru’s comment did not go down well with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who warned the APC Secretary to stay clear of Rivers politics.

Reacting to the development in a statement, APC National Secretary said the Minister’s reaction was uncalled for as he (Bashiru) was only carrying out his responsibility of protecting the interests of the Party, all its members and structures. 

He wondered how a Minister, who is not a member of the party, could challenge his person and office.

According to Bashiru: “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.”

He also warned the Minister 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. 

“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 can not be confined to my home state, Osun State.”

Bashiru also dismissed as cheap blackmail the allegation by Wike that APC leaders were in the state scrambling for a N600 billion largesse.

“I 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 integrity, and I challenge him to prove his allegations, or we may meet in court.

 “As to his veiled threat against me, 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.”

Bashiru reminded the Minister 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 can not bring the spirit of PDP into the APC,” he said.