A senior member of the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rein in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, amid the deepening political rift between him and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
According to The Punch, the party chieftain, who requested anonymity because of the delicate nature of the issue, expressed concern that the minister’s conduct was undermining party unity, national stability and the authority of the President. He suggested that Wike’s actions reflected a pattern of disregard for both the leadership of the APC and broader national interests.
According to the official, any minister whose conduct could trigger unrest or threaten public order was acting in a manner inconsistent with the responsibilities of office, particularly at a time when the country is already facing serious security and diplomatic pressures.
He noted that Nigeria’s designation by the United States as a Country of Particular Concern, coupled with the rising incidence of kidnapping and banditry, required careful and responsible leadership. In his view, the prolonged political tension in Rivers State only compounds these challenges and signals a lack of sensitivity to the nation’s pressing problems.
The party source further claimed that many stakeholders now see the minister as a liability to the President, closely observing whether decisive steps would be taken to prevent him from acting without restraint.
He concluded that the situation was creating the impression that the President was unwilling or unable to assert control, a perception he warned could have broader political consequences.
He said, “As a minister, what temerity does he have to heat up the polity, tour local governments making inflammatory remarks, and attack personalities across the country, including our national secretary? He abandoned his responsibilities in Abuja and embarked on a journey of creating crises in Rivers State.
“I think the President’s advisers must properly brief him on the dangers of Wike’s actions. His posture is affecting even the popularity of the President. Wike is projecting the President as weak and riding roughshod over him.”
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