That things have gone topsy-turvy in the main opposition party, the PDP is an understatement. The PDP has produced many politicians of timber and calibre in Nigeria since the return to democratic rule in 1999. One of them is Nyesom Wike who has attained the status of a key figure in Nigerian politics. As Governor
That things have gone topsy-turvy in the main opposition party, the PDP is an understatement. The PDP has produced many politicians of timber and calibre in Nigeria since the return to democratic rule in 1999. One of them is Nyesom Wike who has attained the status of a key figure in Nigerian politics. As Governor of Rivers State between 2015 and 2019, his words were law. He ruled the State like an Emperor. But he appears the biggest troubler and nemesis of the party in Nigeria. The party appears confused or over-compromised not knowing how to deal with the “Wike’s situation”
In Wike’s political dogma, personal political interest reigns above the public interest. He either has his ways or goes about putting fires in the States, starting with his native Rivers State. To him, politics is war, and all is fair in war. He easily forgets his humble beginnings and the fact that he has enjoyed the grace of God through destiny helpers at different phases of his political career. From a lowly beginning, he joined the political ladder with an appointment as one of the personal assistants to Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State; to becoming a Local government chairman and later chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi before being elected governor.
As governor, he waged wars and crushed several oppositions. He has threatened war against the governors of the party who had the temerity to declare support for his successor. Wike is today the biggest opposition within the opposition party. He appears untouchable and has threatened that any attempt to sanction him could lead to the largest exodus from the party, its decimation, and ultimate death. How can one individual be so powerful?
Summoning the courage to rein him in recently, the PDP Governors Forum challenged his actions in Rivers State. In a statement: The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) under the chairmanship of H.E. Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (CON) and the Governor of Bauchi State and all the member-Governors has been drawn to a widely circulating news story in which the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, H.E. Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike – CON, GSSRS former Governor of Rivers State, made scathing and threatening comments regarding member-Governors of the Forum and notes the significant concerns that has been raised in the public space regarding the unity and peaceful coexistence within our party.
The statements and threats to peaceful coexistence made by Wike to “Put fire” in the PDP-controlled States are unbridled, irresponsible, and without ambiguity unacceptable as they undermine efforts to build and maintain peace, cohesion, collaboration, and mutual respect amongst leaders and members of the party. It is rather unfortunate that this is coming from someone who was once a member of this highly revered forum as a former governor.
The Forum has always maintained the “A TOUCH ONE TOUCH ALL” philosophy and individually and collectively stand by and support each other no matter the circumstances. A tradition Wike tremendously enjoyed in his days of travail as governor. Thus, we, therefore, maintain that our position on the affairs of the PDP in Rivers State, as unanimously resolved at our 2024, 3rd, and 4th Meetings held in Enugu and Taraba States respectively are not subject to review by any individual no matter how highly placed.
“We are irrevocably committed to working with the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the PDP, in ensuring that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is conferred with all the privileges he is entitled to as a Governor elected on the platform of our party, both at the state and national levels.
“The Forum insists that it is incumbent on the National Working Committee of the PDP to invoke both official provisions and unofficial good office platforms to find an amicable solution to the crisis in its Rivers State chapter. Similarly, if indeed the larger interests of Rivers State are their motivation, the warring parties should allow themselves to be guided by a spirit of give and take and eschew, always, the incendiary posturing that inflames passions among their followers.
“It is inevitable for us to encourage dialogue and reconciliation continuously. The PDP has established mechanisms for addressing grievances and resolving conflicts, such as the recently constituted disciplinary and reconciliation committees; thus, Wike needs to engage with these processes constructively, as dialogue and reconciliation are the pathways to resolving differences and strengthening the party.
“The Forum calls on the heads of the national security apparatuses to take note of threats by Wike to stoke the fire of violence at the sub-nationals as no one is above the laws of the land” The statement was signed by Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, Director General, PDP-Governors Forum.
Sensing a showdown, the PDP last Wednesday postponed its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting until next week because of tensions between former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and the PDP Governors Forum on the status of Rivers State party congresses.
It was also reported that officials of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have uncovered what they describe as a deliberate plot by Nyesom Wike, to sabotage the party ahead of the Edo governorship election slated for September 21, 2024. The allegation suggests that Wike is actively working with Senator Adams Oshiomhole and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to ensure a victory for the APC in the upcoming election.
According to high-ranking sources within the PDP, Wike’s actions have raised serious concerns about his loyalty to the party, especially given his influential role within the opposition. The NWC has it “on good authority” that Wike is allegedly channeling funds to the APC campaign through the Dan Orbih-led faction of the PDP in Edo State, a move that is being widely condemned as an act of betrayal. But the NWC is in a dilemma because Wike is a major financier of the party and by interpretation the godfather of the PDP.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP. Mr. Debo Ologunagba stated recently that the NWC of the PDP would review the sham committee of friends’ get-together organized by Nyesom Wike in the name of Party Congress, and that they would be abiding by existing court orders baring Congress in Rivers State. Gov. Sim Fubara as the governor, by tradition, should be in Charge and the Leader of PDP in the State. But this is being disrupted by Nyesom Wike, an action he never tolerated as governor. Instead, he is fighting the Rivers State Governor and deliberately causing disharmony and instability in the State.
Firing back Wike said: “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give it back to somebody. I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see, you take,” Wike said.
On another occasion, he said if he was expelled from the party, that would be the end of the party because of the number of people that would leave the party in solidarity with him. Chief Wike can pull this weight because he has a huge financial war chest from which he could dispense to members of the party across the board. Several leaders have been compromised.
Many political parties are weak because rather than derive their funding from membership dues, levies, and other fund-raising activities depend on moneybags for their funding and sustenance. A situation where a single person purchases nomination forms for all the contestants for elective positions, from Councillorship to Governorship is deplorable. He doesn’t stop there; he also provides accommodation and other logistics for party officials who are to moderate and conduct party primaries. No soothsayers are needed to say that cannot be free and fair. In some instances, he chooses the persons to be sent to his State and they are so appointed by the party. Those are Wike’s trademarks in Rivers State. That is why he controls the structure.
He has several fightbacks to contend with. One of them, elder statesman Edwin Clark alleged that the words Wike marked a flagrant disrespect to the person of President Bola Tinubu, who appointed him. He has called on the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, to urgently arrest and prosecute the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He asked Egbetokun to arrest Wike over his threat to set fire to the states of governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike having lost the PDP presidential ticket wanted to be made Vice President to Abubakar Atiku the candidate named Ifeanyi Okowa the governor of Delta State for other political calculations. That was the turning point. Wike felt disappointed and picked on a new theme to support a southern presidential candidate after 8 years of Buhari from the north. He had the sympathy of some PDP governors leading to the birth of G-5 governors in the party. They worked against the candidate of the party and the bad politics consumed one or two and bruised the others. The party lost the presidential election in their respective states.
Wike had since gone on to be compensated with a lucrative position as a Minister in the APC government. But his assignment for the Tinubu government is far from being over. Part of the winning strategy of a political party is to cause division in the ranks of its opposition parties. So, far, Wike is playing that role effectively well for the APC, advertently or inadvertently. But the general perception amongst the public is that the PDP must develop the balls and hit the bull’s eye by calling Chief Nyesom Wike to order. The longer he stays within its fold the more aggressive cancer he becomes. The way things are going, he will collapse the party’s system make ineffectual its role as an opposition party and ultimately terminate its existence.
