... I’m still in PDP, ex Rivers Gov, Wike
In what appears to be a drama, the newly appointed and sworn in Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); His Excellency, Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike’s name has been listed in both All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Councils For Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi State Guber Elections
Wike, a two-term governor of oil-rich Rivers State was in both tenures, elected on the platform of the PDP. He fell out with the PDP after the outcome of the last Presidential primary of his Party which he had contested.
His rival and former Vice President of Nigeria; His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had emerged the Presidential standard bearer of the PDP for the 2023 election.
Wike, a southerner, had demanded that the then National Chairman of his party, a Northerner should resign to pave the way for a southerner to emerge as National Chairman in acting capacity, pending the conduct of another National convention. Wike’s position was on the premise that since Atiku Abubakar, a Northerner had won as Presidential candidate, a southerner should be the National Chairman.
According to Nyesom Wike, Nigeria had two major regions (North and South) and every political position must be occupied in such a manner that reflects Federal character. Wike had held that in the course of the 2023 campaigns, his party- the PDP should not be viewed by the Nigerian electorate as a ‘one-region’ party.
The former Rivers State Governor’s position was stoutly supported by his counterparts in Abia, Enugu, Oyo and Benue states, all of whom being in PDP. This gave rise to the birth of the then popular ‘G-5’ Governors. Yet, Atiku was adamant, insisting that both the Presidential ticket and the National Chairmanship position must be held by Northerners.
In the heat of the last electioneering campaigns, the G-5 governors were reportedly working against their party, the PDP.
For instance, in Rivers State, the APC had won the Presidential election in land slide while PDP retained the governorship, National and State Assemblies positions.
In what political pundits believe to be a compensation for ensuring Victory for the APC in his PDP Rivers State, the immediate-past governor, Nyesom Wike was appointed as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, taking charge of the FCT.
Meanwhile, Wike has always maintained that he still remained a member of the PDP. In his post swearing-in Media briefing, the FCT Minister had revealed that he had consulted and sought the opinion of all the major stakeholders of his party when he was earlier nominated by the President, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Minister.
Wike had alleged that all those he consulted had given their contents, advising him to take up the position.
More details later…