Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, a major protagonist in the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has granted an explosive interview where he bared it all about the PDP crisis, while daring the party leadership to suspend him over his role in the current imbroglio bedeviling the party.
WHAT WE KNOW
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, this Friday dared his People’s Democratic Party to suspend him as there is a growing call for his suspension from the Atiku Abubakar’s camp.
Governor Wike on Friday, spoke in a media chat at Rivers State government house in Port Harcourt. The Governor who is a major player in the crisis accused the People’s Democratic Party National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu of corruption.
Wike alleged that Ayu collected N1bn inducement in Lagos to compromise the process the May presidential primary election. He equally accused Ayu of wanting to hang onto office as Chairman of the party, to help him push his agenda of becoming Secretary to the federal Government, in the event the PDP wins.
Nyesom Wike noted that his camp has opted to remain in the PDP to force the party chairman out in the interest of fairness and equity.
The Rivers State governor however, expressed hope that the party can still do the right thing before next year’s election, as going into the election divided would be the doom of the party.
On the possibility of the party suspending him, Wike dared the party leadership to go ahead with the option of suspending him from the party.
Wike again also raised the fact that Senator Ayu of his own volition promised to resign if the party’s presidential candidate emerged from the North. Wike also claimed in his comment that the PDP presidential primaries was comprised against him.
Governor Wike then noted his regret that he didn’t get the opportunity to personally fight insecurity in the country. On the alleged betrayal by Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Wike said he has a shock absorber, hence not shaken.
The vociferous Wike further expressed his disappointment at the PDP convention planning committee headed by former Senate President, Sen. David Mark for his role in the betrayal by Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
On his achievements as Governor, Wike scored himself high, and boasted that as a governor he has never spent a night in Abuja, insisting he will remain in Rivers State after his tenure as governor.
Governor Wike also said he had an option of disrupting the PDP presidential primary when he noticed it was comprised, but held back because of his respect for Nigerians who wanted the PDP to take over power.
NOTABLE QUOTES
At the media chat in Port Harcourt, Wike said:
“We cannot allow this opportunity that Nigerians have given to us to go. If we miss it, we will pay dearly. If the party so wish to suspend me they should go ahead. In fact, I dare them to suspend me. They know what I can do.
“Who will suspend me? What do you think is my job here? I’m not saying I’m bigger than the party but those who ran away from the party cannot suspend me from the party. I beg them, today, today, they should come and suspend me. Anything they see, they will take.
“Opposition parties and candidates talking to me is not anti-party. Something must give way for us to move ahead. We are not talking about removal for Ayu. Resignation is not removal. For political expediency, he should resign to salvage the situation and the party.”
“Nobody forced Ayu that if the candidate comes from the North he will resign. He knows it’s the practice.
“Ayu is very corrupt. He is very corrupt. Will he deny he did not collect N1Bn. He met one of the presidential aspirants in Lagos. Let him deny this then I will say more. I am serious and an important Governor. I challenge him to deny it.”
“The national chairman threatened that if Wike wins that he would resign. He was asking aspirants to resign for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. They held a lot of meetings. Even at the primary that was the reason we started very late. They were putting pressure that aspirants should step down for Atiku.”
“I feel pained that I didn’t get the opportunity to fight insecurity and oil theft. If I were elected, I would have taken up insecurity and oil theft that is affecting the nation.”
“If you are a politician, you must develop strong shock absorber, otherwise you will die. I have shock absorber. If Tambuwal betrayed me, nothing I can do about it. I don’t think about that anymore. Were we married? If he thinks what he has done is good in his conscience, it’s his choice.
“I’m satisfied with what I have done as Governor of Rivers state. That’s what makes you a Nigerian. I’m not one of those who will go and stay in Abuja. As governor, I’ve never spent a night in Abuja. What I’m I staying there for? After office, I will still remain in Rivers state.”
BACKGROUND
The PDP crisis rather than end, is snowballing. Recall that the crisis started after the party’s primary election where former Vice President Atiku Abubakar won other contestants in what has turned out to be victory in controversial circumstance.
Wike came second at the primary elections last May. Many even within the party expected the PDP presidential candidate to pick Wike as his running mate as he was the most popular and the choice of the PDP chieftains.
However, Atiku Abubakar overlooked him for Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in ways and manner that infuriated Nyesom Wike.
Governor Wike and his allies have been consistent in their call for the resignation of the party’s Chairman Sen. Iyorchia Ayu ever since the fall out of the PDP convention held in Abuja.
COMMENTARY
It is becoming obvious that the PDP will go into February elections with a divided house and an existential rift among major stakeholders in the party.
With the above, the chances of the party emerging victorious at the presidential poll is fizzling away by the minute.
The PDP National leadership and presidential candidate have continued to show themselves as a poor in crisis management and conflict resolution.
These developments have now definitely raised the doubt in the hearts and minds of people of the capacity of the PDP to turn things around for good in the country, if it cannot manage its own affairs.
Recently, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu may have hit the nail on the head when he strategically referred to Atiku Abubakar as the greatest divider in the opposition PDP.
In the words of Bola Tinubu, “Instead of being a unifier, Atiku is now a divider-in-chief” for “violating his party’s code for power rotation”.
Going the facts of the happenings in the PDP and the position that Atiku has publicly taken, there is no doubt that the APC campaign team have taking a consequential mantra from the PDP crisis.
As the campaign commences shortly around the country, the APC will run with the argument that Atiku is definitely not the kind of persons Nigerians will need at the helms of affairs in a country with conflicting political interest.
The argument is simply and straight – if an Atiku as the presidential candidate of the PDP cannot unify the party with micro issues, how can he unify the country with macro and major contending interests as the president?
