Wike is APC asset, don’t embarrass him, Jibrin tells governors

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has urged APC governors to stop publicly attacking the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing him as an asset to the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu.

Jibrin made the call on Wednesday night while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid criticism of Wike by some APC governors over his continued membership of the Peoples Democratic Party and his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

The Kano federal lawmaker said Wike had made significant political sacrifices for the APC and the Tinubu administration, arguing that members of the ruling party had benefited directly or indirectly from his efforts.

“There is no APC member in Nigeria today that has not directly or indirectly benefited from the efforts of Wike,” Jibrin said.

He said Wike’s contributions should be recognised rather than subjected to public criticism.

“Wike is an asset to the APC. I don’t think Wike should be embarrassed at this moment with public statements,” he stated.

Jibrin said his intervention was not based on any personal relationship with the FCT minister, stressing that he had only met Wike twice by accident.

He explained that his concern was the stability of efforts towards supporting Tinubu’s second-term bid.

“I’m not holding any brief for Wike, but I think anything that is going to touch on the stability of the journey towards delivering the President, I like to make my intervention,” he said.

The lawmaker also cited Wike’s alleged role in the political realignment that strengthened the APC in Rivers State.

“Wike has sacrificed so much for the APC and the President. Wike has handed over Rivers State to APC,” Jibrin said.

He further claimed that Wike had asked some of his candidates to step down for APC candidates during the Federal Capital Territory elections.

According to him, Wike’s participation in the Federal Government’s national unity arrangement had also helped the ruling party manage opposition politics.

Jibrin argued that Wike’s continued membership of the PDP should not automatically invalidate his support for Tinubu.

“There are people who are in other parties, who are working with us in the NDC, in the ADC,” he said.

He disclosed that some politicians outside the APC had contacted him over the public criticism of Wike.

Jibrin urged APC governors who had disagreements with Wike to resolve them through private discussions rather than public attacks.

“If anybody at the subnational level feels it may work against him or his interest, they should discuss with Wike,” he said.

The APC chieftain maintained that the party should recognise Wike’s political contributions while managing disagreements with him diplomatically.