Leadership Row Deepens As Obono-Obla Questions Shettima’s Alleged Message To Wike.

Former presidential aide on prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, has described as unnecessary the alleged warning by Vice President Kashim Shettima to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over leadership issues within the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, according to Nivo News.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Shettima had reportedly stated during a public engagement in Enugu that governors are the leaders of their respective political parties in the states they govern. The comment sparked reactions in political circles, with some interpreting it as a subtle caution directed at Wike, who has openly maintained that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is not the leader of the APC in Rivers State.

Reacting to the development, Obono-Obla explained that, by long-standing party practice, governors of states controlled by the APC are often regarded as the party’s leaders, even though such authority is not explicitly provided for in the party’s constitution. He noted that, in that sense, the Vice President’s position was not entirely misplaced.

However, Obono-Obla argued that directing such remarks at Wike was inappropriate, pointing out that the FCT Minister is not a member of the APC structure in Rivers State and therefore falls outside the scope of the state party leadership arrangement.

He further clarified that while the APC constitution does not expressly designate elected governors as party leaders at the state level, they have traditionally assumed that role by convention and implication. According to him, this unwritten practice has remained contentious, as critics argue that it allows some governors to exercise unchecked influence within the party.

Obono-Obla warned that the absence of clearly defined leadership roles has, in some instances, encouraged cronyism and godfatherism, thereby weakening internal democracy. He called on the APC to amend its constitution to clearly spell out leadership responsibilities and prevent the abuse of convention within the party.