Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were accused on Wednesday by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, of trying to dismantle the party, calling their actions self-serving and harmful to the opposition’s ability to survive.
Wike also attacked the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) during a live media chat broadcast on national television stations in Abuja, calling it “stupid” for deciding to hold another South-South Zonal Congress.
In contrast to his time in office, the former Governor of Rivers State claimed that the current group of PDP governors is not dedicated to the party’s continued existence.
He described them as “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 claimed that some PDP leaders engage in deceptive tactics by acting differently in private than they do in public.
“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?”
The Minister also attacked the PDP NWC for trying to hold a second South-South Zonal Congress after an earlier exercise.
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 stated that the PDP should concentrate on more important matters rather than power conflicts, dismissing the fixation with the South-South Zonal Congress.
“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 criticised PDP governors for not standing up as a powerful opposition and for putting their own goals ahead of those of the party.
He threatened to 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 the 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.
Wike maintained that he would stay in the PDP and fight from within, despite rumours that he could move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“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 attacked Peter Mbah, the Governor of Enugu State, saying he wanted to force his leadership on the South-East without making the appropriate concessions.
“Look at the 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?”
