Some youths on Friday staged a protest at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), demanding the removal of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over alleged disrespect to party leaders.
The protesters converged on the APC secretariat with placards bearing inscriptions such as, “President Tinubu, sack Wike now,” “Stop disrespecting APC members,” “No minister is above APC,” “APC no be Wike property,” “APC must restore order,” “Wike, APC leadership is not your mate,” and “Wike, no more political threats.”
The protest followed a public disagreement between the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and Wike over political developments in Rivers State.
Basiru had asked Wike to resign his appointment and focus on what he described as an “obsession” with Rivers politics.
He said all members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) must accord sitting governors due respect as party leaders in their respective states.
In response, Wike cautioned Basiru to stay away from Rivers politics.
“I want to say it here; take this message to the national secretary to leave Rivers State alone,” Wike said during a stakeholders’ meeting in Oyigbo Local Government Area on January 5.
“Go and ask those who have tried it before. 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. Now you open your mouth to talk about Rivers State. Anything you see, take it.
“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 us. So, stop making unnecessary comments,” he added.
The FCT minister has since commenced moves against the re-election of Governor Siminalayi Fubara after the governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in December.
Wike had accused Fubara of reneging on an agreement reached before President Bola Tinubu lifted the emergency rule in Rivers State.
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