A prominent political advocacy group in Rivers State has raised a red flag, stating that recent comments by the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, could severely undermine President Bola Tinubu's chances of winning the state in the 2027 general elections.
RRM Slams 'Careless and Inflammatory' Remarks
The Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) issued a stern warning in a joint statement signed by its Director-General, Hon. Johnson Georgewill, and Secretary, Mrs Sarima Akpata. The group described the remarks attributed to Senator Basiru, which included calls for Wike's resignation and accusations of meddling in Rivers politics, as "careless and inflammatory."
RRM explained that while it would typically ignore such statements, the strategic importance of Rivers State in national elections compelled a response. They emphasized that Rivers remains a critical battleground, and its political stability has significant implications for the ruling party and the presidency.
Questioning the APC Scribe's Grasp of Riverine Politics
The movement, which claims to have collaborated with over 40 affiliate groups to support the 2023 power shift that led to Governor Siminalayi Fubara's election, openly questioned whether the APC National Secretary is fully informed about the political realities on the ground.
RRM posed direct questions to Basiru: Was he present during the reconciliation meetings between Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly? Is he aware of the governor's commitments to uphold those agreements for peace and good governance? Furthermore, the group questioned if the APC scribe appreciates the political sacrifices made by Nyesom Wike.
They argued that Wike's contributions were instrumental to President Tinubu's victory in Rivers State during the 2023 presidential election and helped spread votes to other states.
A Call for Order and a Blueprint for 2027
In its concluding remarks, the RRM made a strong appeal to the APC national leadership to "call the National Secretary to order." It warned that internal disagreements and public confrontations are counterproductive for the party's cohesion and electoral prospects.
The group also advised the FCT Minister to ignore political actors it described as lacking significant electoral value. Instead, they urged Wike to focus on building a broad-based coalition capable of securing Tinubu's re-election in 2027.
Looking beyond the presidency, RRM suggested that such a coalition should also work towards producing a successor to Governor Fubara who embodies "honesty, truth, gratitude and teamwork." In the spirit of equity and fairness, they proposed that a "grateful Rivers Ijaw son" should be considered for the governorship position after Fubara's tenure.
