An All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain, Farouk Aliyu, has warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against engaging in actions that could fracture the ruling party.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, Aliyu addressed Wike’s recent remarks targeting several APC governors.
The FCT Minister, a PDP member serving in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, had previously labeled some APC governors “lazy” and “419ners.”
Aliyu insisted that the APC would not overlook Wike’s public criticisms simply because similar behavior went unchecked during his internal battles with the PDP.
“Well, you see, I am not personally attacking Wike as a person, no.
“When Wike was doing that to his party, PDP, that’s his party really, but now this is our own party.
“So just because he did it to his party, you think we should condone doing it to our party? No, we will not condone it. Certainly, we will not.
“Whoever thinks that because Wike did that to his party, then we should allow him to do it to our party, we, as a party, shall not allow these kind of things to happen,” he said.
The party chieftain urged President Tinubu to step in and address the growing friction between the minister and party leaders.
“And Mr. President is going to come back. Mr. President will have to certainly decide. I’m sure he will speak to Wike. He will speak to also our leaders. That look, we don’t need these things in public,” Aliyu stated.
Despite the friction, Aliyu commended Wike’s performance as FCT minister and clarified that party members do not resent his appointment.
“I am not aware that anybody is against him being appointed minister. Yes, I heard him saying that.
“We are happy with him being a minister because I don’t think in this country there has ever been a minister of FCT that has done what Wike has done or is doing.
“So we are happy with his performance absolutely, and he, as a minister, he’s been compensated with that position, and position of FCT minister is good and huge compensation in a political setting of this country.
“We are not quarrelling with that. He is compensated, and then of course there will be rivalry. Some people may not be happy with him, and so on.
“I and so many of us are not part of those that are not happy with Wike, or because he became a minister of the FCT.
“It is true Wike also helped us to bring Rivers and also FCT at the last election,” he added.
Tensions have escalated following warnings from APC Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, Hope Uzodimma, who affirmed that governors will reject any political alignment that weakens the party or threatens President Tinubu’s 2027 reelection bid.
