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The APC Grassroots Governance Organization has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of sowing discord within the ruling party.
In a statement issued by Mukhtar Taminu on Wednesday, the organization said Wike, through his ‘Rainbow Coalition’, intends to weaken the cohesion of the APC leadership.
According to the body, if the FCT minister’s activities are not checked, they could lead to “political instability.
“The APC Grassroots Organization is compelled to raise an alarm over what we have identified as a calculated political strategy by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to sow discord within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and weaken the cohesion of its leadership under the guise of building a so-called “rainbow coalition.”
“We find it deeply hypocritical that the FCT Minister publicly presents his political project as a broad-based coalition while, in practice, appears to be building a personal political army capable of undermining the unity of the APC, its elected governors and its structures across the country.
“Wike’s current political manoeuvring bears a striking resemblance to the template he deployed within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general election.
“As governor of Rivers State, Wike was a leading force behind the Integrity Group and the G5 governors, a political arrangement that contributed to the deepening of the crisis within the PDP and ultimately weakened the party ahead of the 2023 elections.
“Today, we are witnessing what appears to be the same script being replayed within the APC.
“Under the banner of a “rainbow coalition”, Wike is attempting to position himself at the centre of a political structure while attacking and confronting APC governors and creating unnecessary tension among members of the governing party.
“We have looked beyond the rhetorics, ask ourselves what is the purpose of the so-called coalition.
“What is the real purpose of this so-called rainbow coalition?
“A genuine coalition should promote cooperation, dialogue and unity. It should not become a platform for attacking elected governors, sowing distrust among party leaders or creating rival political structures within a governing party.
“The minister has repeatedly directed his attacks at APC governors, including the Governor of Kwara, who happens to be the Governor’s Forum Chairman, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, and also Governors of Enugu, Nasarawa, Gombe, Jigawa, Plateau, Delta, Zamfara and Ebonyi states. He has also boasted publicly about his ability to confront or “deal with” some APC governors.
“We consider such utterances reckless, provocative and inimical to the unity of the APC.
“It is particularly disturbing that a serving minister of the Federal Republic, who should be working to strengthen the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would engage in conduct capable of setting members of the governing party against one another.
“Wike must understand that the APC is bigger than his political ambitions.
“The party belongs to millions of Nigerians at the grassroots, elected officials and stakeholders across the 36 states of the federation. It cannot and must not be reduced to an instrument for the advancement of the political ambitions of any individual.
“We are therefore compelled to warn that if Wike’s activities are not checked, they could become a recipe for serious political instability within the APC and potentially undermine the party’s electoral prospects.
“The APC must not allow the experience of the PDP in 2023 to be replicated within its own ranks.
“The same political strategy that created the Integrity Group and G5 within the PDP, contributed to internal divisions and weakened the party, must not be imported into the APC under another name.
“A rainbow coalition cannot become a political army.
“We call on Wike to immediately stop insulting, threatening and publicly attacking APC governors. He should also desist from actions and statements capable of creating disunity among APC governors and destabilising the party’s structures across the states.
“Political ambition is legitimate. Political organisation is legitimate. But neither should be pursued at the expense of the unity and stability of the governing party.
“We are particularly concerned that these activities appear to be driven by calculations about the political succession and power configuration beyond the present administration, including the 2031 political cycle and beyond.
“Nobody should be allowed to destabilise the APC today in pursuit of a personal political arrangement for tomorrow.
“The immediate priority of all loyal members of the APC should be to strengthen the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, support the party’s elected officials and consolidate the gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We therefore call on the leadership of the APC, APC governors and all party stakeholders to remain vigilant and resist every attempt to create artificial divisions within the party.
“The APC Grassroots Governance Organization will continue to stand firmly for party unity, internal democracy and the interests of the millions of Nigerians who constitute the grassroots base of the All Progressives Congress.
“Wike should not mistake the APC’s commitment to unity and tolerance for weakness.
“The party will not allow any individual or personal political project to undermine its cohesion, weaken its elected leaders or jeopardise its electoral future,” the statement said.
