The lingering political feud in Rivers State took a sharper turn on Monday as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, issued a stern warning to the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, urging him to “leave Rivers State alone.”
In a fiery speech interspersed with songs and chants during a public event, Wike accused external forces of interfering in Rivers affairs, motivated by the state’s substantial budget of over ₦600 billion. “Tell your National Secretary, ‘Leave Rivers State alone… alone,’” Wike declared, addressing proxies like Tony Okocha and Victor Giadom. He added, “Go and ask those who have tried it before,” implying severe consequences for past interveners, and described Rivers as a “no-go area.”
Wike cautioned against taking support for President Bola Tinubu “for granted,” stressing that agreements must be honored. “Agreement is agreement… Anything you see, take it,” he said, warning against “unnecessary comments” from outsiders enjoying benefits elsewhere, like in Osun State.
The outburst comes in direct response to Basiru’s recent criticism of APC National Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom. Giadom, during Wike’s “thank you” visit to Gokana Local Government Area last week, reportedly referred to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the “so-called governor” and stated that “to win anything in this state, you must go through Wike.”
Basiru condemned Giadom’s remarks as “unfortunate” and “unbecoming,” emphasizing respect for the governor’s office regardless of political differences or allegiances. “Even if the governor is not in our party, you can’t refer to an elected governor as a ‘so-called governor’ in order to please anybody,” Basiru said.
The exchange highlights deepening divisions within the APC in Rivers, where Fubara recently defected to the ruling party amid his protracted rift with Wike, his predecessor.
In a related development, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has formally endorsed Governor Fubara for a second term in 2027. IYC President, Dr. Theophilus Alaye, praised Fubara’s “people-centered” governance, focusing on infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, healthcare, and peacebuilding despite “political distractions.”
The council rejected any arrangements promoted by Wike or his allies that undermine Fubara’s mandate, calling on the FCT Minister to allow the governor “freedom to discharge his constitutional responsibilities without interference.” Alaye warned that the “patience of the Ijaw people should not be mistaken for weakness.”
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