In a development that has further whittled down the influence of former Rivers State governor and minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and diminished his political stature, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has come out to tell him pointedly that he’s subject to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s control should he opt to join the party.
The clarification of the APC’s position on who is in control of the state’s structure came amid Wike’s refusal to recognise Fubara as the leader of the party after he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling party.
Speaking on the development, APC’s Director of Information, Bala Ibrahim, said Wike would still be accommodated if he chose to defect, stressing that political structure and hierarchy must be respected, regardless of Wike’s status at the federal level.
According to Ibrahim, defecting to the party does not automatically confer control or leadership over existing party structures in any state.
The APC however contended that such accommodation would not override the authority of a sitting governor who already controls the party structure in the state.
While explaining that leadership follows office and position and not past influence, Ibrahim noted that political loyalty should flow in line with current authority, not previous roles.
“He will be given a seat; there will be a place for him. It’s a choice for him to be under Fubara. If you follow, you will be followed, but if you don’t follow, nobody is going to follow you.
“When he was the governor, he was followed. Now that he is not the governor, he must follow. You can’t carry the position of leadership after vacating the seat.
“He can’t get what he wants all the time. There are times that if you go against the laid down regulations, you can’t get what you want”, the APC spokesman stated.
Insisting that political rules must be respected by everyone, regardless of past influence or prominence, the APC warned that no individual is bigger than the party or its internal regulations.