The North-Central chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has come out strongly in defence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, rejecting growing calls for his resignation or redeployment from office.

 

According to a report, the North-Central APC Forum dismissed demands that Wike should step aside, including calls urging President Bola Tinubu to remove or reassign him to another ministry.

 

The controversy followed comments by the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, who publicly suggested that Wike should resign as FCT minister and focus on the political crisis in Rivers State. Basiru’s remarks came after Wike warned him to stay out of Rivers politics, where the former governor remains embroiled in a tense power struggle with Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

 

Beyond the party, pressure has also mounted from various groups and individuals dissatisfied with Wike’s continued involvement in Rivers State affairs. Some have urged President Tinubu to sack him, while the West African chapter of the Ijaw National Congress called for his reassignment to the Ministry of Niger Delta.

 

However, the North-Central APC Forum has rejected those arguments, describing them as misplaced. In a statement issued on Monday by its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the group insisted that Wike should be allowed to continue his work in Abuja, which it emphasized is an integral part of the North-Central region.

 

The forum praised the pace of development in the FCT since Wike assumed office, pointing to visible progress on key infrastructure projects. According to the group, removing the minister at this point would disrupt ongoing projects and undermine the gains recorded under the Tinubu administration.

 

The group also made it clear that it has no interest in the Rivers State political crisis, stressing that its primary concern is development in the FCT and the wider North-Central zone. While it said it would not engage in verbal exchanges with party leaders calling for Wike’s resignation, the forum warned that sustained agitation could spark protests in Abuja.

 

“The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum rejects calls for the resignation of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike. The minister is performing well in the FCT under an APC administration, and we frown at such calls, especially as it concerns the development of the FCT, which is part of the North-Central,” the statement read.

 

Expanding on its position, the forum argued that several past FCT ministers spent years in office with little impact, while Wike, in less than two years, has visibly transformed the capital city. It described calls for his removal as driven by narrow personal interests rather than genuine concerns about governance, even when such calls come from senior party figures.

 

The group also dismissed claims that Wike’s non-membership of the APC should count against him, insisting that performance and contribution to governance should take precedence over party affiliation.

 

According to the forum, Wike has added tangible value to President Tinubu’s administration, particularly through infrastructure delivery in the FCT. It expressed concern that party leaders would openly antagonise a minister they believe is strengthening the government, arguing that such actions do not align with the President’s success or national development goals.

 

The forum further revealed that it formally commended Wike last year for his achievements in Abuja, noting that the projects have had positive ripple effects across the North-Central region. It warned what it described as “businessmen politicians” to stop distracting the minister with calls for resignation, stressing that political disputes in Rivers State should not spill into FCT governance.

 

Going further, the group maintained that Wike played a significant role in the APC’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, claiming his contribution outweighed that of many party leaders now criticising him. It argued that this role should not be ignored simply because he is not a card-carrying member of the APC.

 

In conclusion, the North-Central APC Forum urged Wike to ignore the distractions and remain focused on delivering his mandate as FCT minister.