A Professor of Strategic Management and Human Capital Development, Okey Ikechukwu, has stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, does not own Rivers State politics and should not warn others to stay away from it.

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

He was responding to recent tensions between Wike and the National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru, following Basiru’s public support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Wike had reportedly cautioned Basiru against interfering in Rivers State politics after his endorsement of Fubara.

Commenting on the issue, Ikechukwu said:
“Wike is not a member of the APC and therefore cannot dictate what happens within the party. Let’s get the facts right. The head of the party in a state like Rivers was the party chairman while Fubara was in the PDP.

“Now that Fubara is a member of the APC, he becomes the leader of the party in the state. Between the leader and the chairman, I am not aware of any other locus of authority within the party. For someone who is not a card-carrying member to assume a position and warn others to stay out of Rivers politics is simply overstepping.

“If I were in the position of the National Secretary, I would be scandalized to remain silent in the face of such interference. I believe Basiru acted appropriately.

“Wike needs to understand the difference between merely supporting the president and being a member of the APC. The weaknesses of the PDP have allowed him to overreach for too long.”