Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has laid down conditions that would guarantee peace in Nigeria’s leading opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike also queried former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s past defection to political parties, describing it as a pattern driven by an insatiable desire to secure Nigeria’s presidency.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, August 4, the former Rivers State Governor highlighted said: “Atiku was in the PDP in 1999, then he joined the Action Congress (AC). After AC, he returned to the PDP, later moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and then back to the PDP again, all in pursuit of the Presidential ticket.
Commenting on Abubakar’s latest reported move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Wike remarked, “If I were his son, I would sit him down and ask: ‘Dad, how can you keep hopping from one party to another at almost 80 years old?’”
The Minister accused the former Vice-President of prioritising personal ambition over party stability and national interest.
According to Wike, the FCT Minister insisted that the South-South zonal congress of the party must stand for peace to reign in PDP.
Insisting that a court ruling sanctified the holding of the congress, Wike said, “Our South-South zonal congress that was held must be upheld. There’s no doubt, no two words about it.
“Now, when we were doing our South-South congress, the Acting National Chairman claimed that the PDP governors were not in support of the National Congress. Where are the PDP governors now? Our congress was held in Calabar and there’s nothing anybody can tell us.
“If they want another round of passes, so be it. Our congress held and Chief Daniel Orbi emerged as the National Vice Chairman of the congress. And the Court allowed for the congress to hold.”
Wike also dismissed the credibility of the emerging opposition coalition reportedly aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting that Abubakar’s motives are based on personal political calculations rather than a genuine agenda.
“The way the PDP is now, it is not likely that Atiku would get a ticket, therefore it is not comfortable. Therefore, he tells you, let’s do a coalition against Tinubu. It’s not right,” he said.
“It is because he cannot get the Presidential ticket under the PDP that he pushed for a coalition.”
