Enimere Àkànbí
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, has accused governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of attempting to destroy the party, describing their actions as self-serving and detrimental to the opposition’s survival.
Speaking during a media session monitored in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike also took a swipe at the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), calling it “stupid” for the decision to conduct another South-South Zonal Congress.
The former Rivers State governor alleged that the current set of PDP governors lacks commitment to the party’s survival, unlike during his tenure.
“This is a set of governors that want PDP to die. Their only interest is to kill PDP. I was a governor when the ruling party under President Muhammadu Buhari tried to destroy the PDP using Ali Modu Sheriff. I stood my ground. I never went to the Villa, never begged for help. I even stopped attending NEC and Council of State meetings because I feared for my life. But I was determined that PDP would survive”
He accused some PDP leaders of playing double-faced politics, saying they speak one thing publicly but act differently in private.
“Forget about these people who say one thing in the day and do another thing at night. I have never played two roles, and I never will. When the 2023 PDP presidential primaries happened, I never asked for money or conditions. My belief was that the presidency should go to the South. I knew who was likely to win, so I played my game openly. But look at these governors today – they have one leg here and another there. What kind of character is that?”
Wike also lashed out at the PDP NWC for attempting to conduct a new South-South Zonal Congress, despite an earlier exercise being held.
He questioned the leadership’s decision-making and credibility.
“Now look at how they are behaving. The congress has been held, yet they want to create problems. That’s why I say the NWC is stupid. Yes, I said it – stupid NWC!”
Wike dismissed the obsession with the South-South Zonal Congress, insisting that the PDP should focus on more pressing issues rather than power struggles.
“All they are interested in is the zonal congress. Rubbish! PDP needs to wake up.
Pressed to mind his language on television, he retorted: “What will they do? When they don’t have credibility? I didn’t call their names, but they know themselves”
Wike accused PDP governors of failing to act as a strong opposition and instead prioritizing personal ambitions over party interests.
He warned that he could expose their individual roles in the ongoing crisis.
“Instead of thinking about how to strengthen the opposition, every governor is playing their own game. Let them challenge me – I will tell them one by one the roles they are playing. They don’t have what it takes to accuse me of anything”
He specifically mentioned Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who is the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, implying that he, too, had played a role in the party’s struggles.
Despite speculations about his possible defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike insisted that he would remain in the PDP and fight from within.
“If I decide to move to APC, I will tell you. But I don’t run from fights. I’m not leaving this party. The governors have the money, but are they even using it for the party? No!”
He also took aim at Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, accusing him of wanting to impose his leadership on the South-East without making necessary sacrifices.
“Look at Enugu Governor. He wants to be the leader of the South-East, and I agree with that. But as a leader, you must make sacrifices. Today, nobody bought a PDP governorship form in Anambra. How can you claim leadership of PDP in the region when you can’t even field a candidate in a state like Anambra?”
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