The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, against what he described as unwarranted interference in Rivers State affairs, urging him to exercise restraint in his public comments.
Wike spoke during a “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, where he accused the APC of benefitting from funds allegedly drawn from the N600 billion left in the state’s treasury. His remarks followed comments credited to the APC Vice Chairman (South-South), who reportedly referred to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as “the so-called governor” during a recent visit to Khana and Gokana local government areas.
The vice chairman was also quoted as saying that Governor Fubara could not secure a second term without Wike’s backing. Reacting to the statement, Basiru described the comment as inappropriate, stressing that the office of governor deserved respect regardless of political differences.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Basiru said it was regrettable for a member of the party’s National Working Committee to refer to a sitting governor in such terms, adding that the position of governor remained an exalted office that should be accorded due respect.
Wike, however, fired back with a strong warning, declaring Rivers State a “no-go area” for political meddling. He cautioned Basiru to learn from the experiences of others who had previously attempted to interfere in the state’s politics, warning that such actions often came with consequences.
The minister alleged that some individuals were emboldened to make reckless statements after benefiting from Rivers State resources, insisting that the state’s support for President Bola Tinubu should not be taken for granted. He warned that anyone who chose to ignore the cautionary advice should be prepared for the outcome.
Meanwhile, the Renewed Hope Ambassador for Rivers State, Desmond Akawor, raised concerns over what he described as stalled development in Oyigbo Local Government Area since Governor Fubara assumed office. He said the community had yet to see meaningful projects despite expectations following the governor’s inauguration.
Akawor argued that Oyigbo deserved a fair share of the resources available to the state, including any funds left in government accounts. He maintained that the local government was not seeking preferential treatment but equity, stressing that its people should not be excluded from development initiatives or resource allocation.
