By Augustine Akhilomen
Former Governor of Rivers State and now, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesson Wike never hid his preference on who to support for a few weeks to last year’s presidential election. Rather than being implicit, Wike was loud and clear that he will support the ambition of the All Progressive Congress’s (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He indeed called the bluff of the leadership of his party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who had picked former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate and former Delta State governor, Okowa as his running mate. This open defiance by Wike against the PDP establishment did not go unnoticed by political observers. Hence, many of whom were looking forward to the punishment that PDP will give the recalcitrant Rivers political strongman.
Eight months into the administration of Tinubu and the many sins of Wike, the main opposition party and its members still lacked the boldness to call the former governor to order talk-less of punishing him for engaging in anti-party activities. Why is the PDP finding it difficult to punish Wike? Is he bigger than the party and is the party aware that his continued presence in their ranks will be inimical to the growth and future of PDP? Are there no mechanisms for dealing with members like this, who are doing everything to put the party in disrepute? These are some of the pertinent questions that readily come to the minds of observers.
Even as the PDP is trying to put its house in order ahead of the next general elections, Wike has been carrying on as if nothing was amiss. He has indeed made a bold claims that he remains a bonafide member of the opposition party.
Besides, the FCT minister has been absent from major meetings of the party and has not been seen campaigning for them in recent off-cycle elections and he does not show any regret for his actions.
Just last week, Wike again reaffirmed his commitment to the opposition party, to further brush aside any attempt of expelling him from the party. His words: “I am a member of the PDP,” Wike said.
“Have you ever seen me change anything? The one I supported before, what happened? I have decided to take a break. As you see me now, everybody should carry their cross.
“I was in PDP and I did not hide it: I told them I was not going to support their presidential candidate. Is it that I spoke or acted in a way people did not understand? Discipline me for what? That I did what? I am an advocate of the party’s constitution. Assuming we lost the governorship election, will they be talking about Rivers as a PDP state?
“Now is the time for governance. Now is the time to do your assignment. The president has given me an assignment and I am busy carrying out my assignment. When the time for politics comes, we would know who is where and who is not where.”
This is the second time that the outspoken former governor will be making this bold statement. On August 31st, 2023, he asserted that he had yet to see any leader in the PDP who had the authority to expel him from the party.
“Who will discipline me? I should be the one calling for the discipline of these people who violated the party constitution,” the minister said.
In the buildup to the 2023 presidential election, Wike had lost the presidential ticket of the PDP to Atiku and the party’s vice presidential ticket to Okowa of Delta State, and became inconsolable.
He then led a group of five former PDP governors, who rebelled against Atiku. Not a few people were in doubt of the contributions Wike made to the victory of Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the APC. For sure, the rebellion led by Wike was said to have contributed to Atiku’s loss.
Meanwhile, former chairman of the PDP in Lagos State, Capt Tunji Shelle, has given reasons why it’s difficult to suspend or expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike from the PDP.
“The PDP is ready to work together and speak with one voice but the likes of the Federal Capital Territory minister who puts one leg in PDP and the other leg in APC is an issue,” Shelle said.
“How do you reconcile a party in that way? And he is still influencing individuals who are within the PDP. He is still influencing some individuals within the National Working Committee of the PDP.
“These are the things APC is doing, planting bombs inside another party. So some people in the PDP might have compromised somewhere. Some people are working with him even within the party. Until a position is taken to suspend or expel him from the party, nothing will work but I am sure some people are already working on this.”
Again, the Acting Chairman of PDP, Umar Damagum, has said the National Working Committee under his leadership will not suspend or dismiss any ‘disloyal’ member.
“They are always telling you these people are not doing the right thing. But when you are in a position of leadership, you are bound by a set of rules, and these rules, even though they are itching you, you don’t apply them—not because of anything, but so that you don’t destroy the house.
“If I said we should start suspension, I will end up suspending many people because they were involved in anti-party activities. So, please bear with us. We intend to keep this party together and to manage it. This is my mandate.”
Many observers are also of the opinion that PDP’s inability to suspend or expel Wike could be due to his financial power and the large followers he commands, which portend so much strength for the party.
Considering the fact that the ruling party are waiting in the wings to bring the former Rivers Governor into their camp if the expected happens, PDP therefore knows they have lots to lose if they decide to take that bold step.
As it is, PDP may be taking its time not to overreact by expelling Wike, but the party must take a concrete decision on his membership or they will risk losing face. Time is running out for the party to deal with the Wike issue once and for all. That would serve as a warning to others or if they should continue to prevaricate over the matter, it would only be inimical to their chances of reclaiming Aso Villa.
“No person should be bigger than the party. Nigerians are watching and waiting to see how this Wike matter is resolved by the PDP. Because it will make or mar their chances in subsequent elections in the country”, says Demola Olusegun, a Lagos based political analyst.
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