Wike Not Owner of Rivers Politics, Shouldn’t Issue Warnings — Okey Ikechukwu

Professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development, Okey Ikechukwu, has said that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has no authority over Rivers State politics and should not be issuing warnings to political actors.

Ikechukwu made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview on Prime Time, a programme on Arise Television.

His comments came in response to recent tension between Wike and the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, following Wike’s warning to Basiru against intervening in Rivers State politics after he publicly supported Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“Wike is not a member of the APC, so he cannot dictate what happens in the party,” Ikechukwu said. “In Rivers State, the party chairman is the head of the APC, while Fubara, as a member, becomes the leader of the party in the state. Between the leader and the chairman, there is no other locus of authority. For someone who is not a card-carrying member to warn others to stay out of Rivers politics — as if it were his private property — is misplaced.”

Ikechukwu added that Basiru’s response to Wike was appropriate. “If I were in the National Secretary’s position, I would be scandalized to remain silent. Wike needs to understand the difference between supporting a party and being a member of it. The weaknesses in the PDP allowed him to act this way for too long,” he said.