By Sarah NEGEDU
Inspite speculations by political watchers that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may not survive its internal crisis and electoral setbacks, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Insists that the party will not disintegrate.
Wike gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja, while hosting a high-level consultative meeting of party stalwarts under the platform of “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP.”
The meeting brought together political heavyweights from across the 36 states and the FCT including three former governors (Samuel Ortom of Benue, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state.
Others present at the meeting include the PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda, serving and former federal and state lawmakers, zonal and state party executives, as well as other notable party figures.
Wike told the gathering that the soul of the party was not lost, insisting that the resolve of committed party members would ensure its survival.
“All of you here are those who are committed to the survival of our party not just on TV talking or on the newspapers talking but committed to the party at the various levels,” Wike said.
He reaffirmed his belief in the decisions taken by the G5 governors during the 2023 elections, saying that the group’s intervention was critical to averting a national political crisis.
“Today, this country is stabilized because of the activities of the G5 Governors. You may like us, you may hate us. The truth of the matter is if G5 did not take the decision we took, this country would have been in crisis. It doesn’t matter who the beneficiary was, but the right thing had to be done and we still stand by that decision.”
Wike, a leading figure in the G5, lamented that the party failed to heed timely advice which could have averted its current troubles.
“If the party had listened to what we said, we won’t have been where we are today. And we have continued to sound it to the party. Let the constitution of the party and of the country be respected. That, as an opposition party, we cannot continue to act with impunity. No opposition party acts with impunity. Ours is to continue to placate people and bring them together, not to say that they should go to hell.”
He warned that personal ambition and internal sabotage remained threats to the PDP’s survival.
“Let us not allow greed, let us not allow ego to kill our party,” he said.
Reacting to criticisms over the status of the party’s National Secretary, Wike questioned the selective application of internal rules, citing precedents involving other party leaders.
He noted, “Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State was the chairman of the party in the state and he did not resign before contesting for governorship but only went back to resign after winning the election.”
Wike also referred to the case of PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, who contested for the Kebbi State governorship and retained his national seat even after losing the election.
Speaking in support of Wike, former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom, highlighted the minister’s personal contributions to the party’s growth and strength, asserting that no one in recent history had invested more in the PDP.
He challenge anyone in Nigeria to tell Nigerians whoever has contributed to the growth of the PDP more than Wike.
He further noted that Wike’s appointment to the sensitive position of FCT Minister by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a reflection of the administration’s awareness of the importance of inclusive governance.
The former governor said President Tinubu understands that the country cannot be a one-party state which was why he appointed Wike into a very sensitive position as the FCT minister.
Ortom, while acknowledging some of the party’s missteps said, “For whatever reason, PDP made a lot of mistakes and we are where we are today.”
