A Professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development, Okey Ikechukwu, has stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, should not warn people to stay out of Rivers State politics. Ikechukwu made this statement during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ program, in response to the recent friction between Wike and the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru.
The controversy began when Wike issued a warning to Basiru, telling him to refrain from interfering in Rivers State politics after Basiru publicly expressed support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Ikechukwu argued that as a non-member of the APC, Wike has no authority to dictate the party’s affairs in the state. He emphasized that the party’s leader in Rivers State is now Governor Fubara, who recently joined the APC, and that the party chairman also plays a key role.
Ikechukwu questioned Wike’s locus of authority in the APC, stating that he cannot claim ownership of Rivers State politics. He suggested that Wike’s actions may be an overstep, and that the National Secretary of the APC, Basiru, was right to speak out. Ikechukwu also noted that Wike’s ability to influence politics in the state may be a result of the weaknesses of the Peoples Democratic Party, which allowed him to exert significant control.
The exchange between Wike and Basiru highlights the complexities of Nigerian politics, where party affiliations and alliances can shift rapidly. The situation in Rivers State is particularly significant, given the state’s strategic importance in the country’s political landscape. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the relationship between Wike and the APC will unfold, and what implications this may have for the state’s political future.
