Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Wednesday vowed to remain in the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the party’s ongoing internal crises and to fight hard against those working for his downfall.
Wike stated this during a media parley in his office, marking his first anniversary as Minister, and addressed questions about whether he might consider joining the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) amid the current PDP turmoil.
Chief Edwin Clark, a former Federal Commissioner for Information, recently accused Wike of using his influence with President Bola Tinubu to intimidate Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the PDP.
Clark called for Wike’s expulsion from the PDP and urged the party’s National Chairman Iliya Damagun to take action.
Reacting, Wike declared, “I’ve told you that I don’t run away from any fight; I will stay, and we will fight it out.
Atiku has his own people, and Bala is building people whom he considers would be president. There are many who are not yet known, playing ostrich.”
Wike added, “What I’m saying, and which you can’t take away from me, is that we must follow the law. Even if you dislike this man, follow the law. What does the law say? It is not about plotting to bring Wike down; you cannot bring me down, and you don’t have what it takes to bring Wike down.”
The FCT Minister emphasized his position as a prominent party member, stating, “I cannot fold my arms and allow someone to be appointed to preside over those who were elected. The national chairman should be elected, not appointed, and this must be done through convention.”
“I don’t know the party that Chief Clark belongs to; frankly speaking, since I joined the PDP, I’ve never seen him at any PDP meeting. Let me provide some history so that people understand. In 2014, when I announced my intention to run, Clark said it was the turn of the Ijaws, and nothing would make him allow me to become governor. I insisted that it was my right to run, and if I failed, I would come back. To the glory of God, I ran and won.
“Since then, years later, I have refused to block anyone’s path. If there is anyone who has contributed to the growth of the PDP up to today, it is me. So when I read that I should be investigated, I asked, Why should I be investigated?
“He was one of those advocating for a southern president, and I supported the idea of a southern president, so what exactly are you going to investigate me for? In leadership, everything is not always smooth. I faced my own crises, but I did not blame anyone; I dealt with the crises quietly.
“When I was in office, you saw what the Federal Government did to me. Did I accuse any ethnic group? No. If you are in a leadership position, you should be able to stand and face any crisis; that is what leadership is all about.
“Fubara, who has demanded that the President should warn me if anything happens in Rivers, is a person who aspires to lead a nation. Fubara lacks the conscience to even claim he can lead,” the FCT Minister stressed.
