Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors that their strategy of excluding him from key decisions will lead to the party’s collapse.
Wike, who gave the warning at a monthly live media parley monitored by The Nation in Abuja, expressed frustration for being sidelined from major consultations despite his long-standing influence within the party.
He said: “Have I not said it before now that the booby trap you are setting will consume you? The way these present governors are doing, they will bury this party”.
He directly challenged the logic of his exclusion, questioning whether his current role as a Minister or his past contributions rendered him irrelevant.
“I am the FCT Minister. Are you telling me that because I am not a Governor, you will hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and exclude me, and then expect the party to survive?” he said.
Wike dismissed the idea that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was to blame for the PDP’s internal crises, asserting that the problems were self-inflicted.
Wike said: “All these talks about APC are rubbish. Is it APC that makes you take wrong decisions? You mean two or three people because they are Governors and receive large allocations, will go and decide, and you tell me to follow? Follow who?”
On the upcoming PDP national convention, the Minister accused the party leadership of failing to complete essential groundwork.
“If they do the right thing, will anybody stall the convention? They have not done the congresses and other things that should be in place,” he said.
His warning comes as the PDP grapples with internal defections and legal battles threatening its planned convention slated for November 15 and 16, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
He said: “Have I not said that so many Governors will leave? Is this the first time you have heard me say so? It is very embarrassing. The Governor was the Chairman of the Convention Committee. It is very embarrassing.
“Diri was the Chairman of the Zoning Committee. Even though I knew from the beginning that they were all playing games. I knew from the beginning, I said it before. There is nothing I said that has not come to pass. Tell me one,” he said.
He added: “With what is going on politically, PDP will continue to lose if there is no change. It is very embarrassing; I know from the beginning that some PDP members are playing games. House that has died since. PDP did not do the right thing. They should follow due process to the national convention.
“If you think you will sideline people to hold the convention, it will not be possible. If a proper convention is to be held, I will attend, but if the convention is not a proper one, I will not attend.
Wike said the leadership had failed to complete necessary congresses and other key processes, which he claimed were stalling progress.
“If they do the right thing, will anybody stall the convention? They have not done the congresses and other things that should be in place,” he said.
The PDP has, in recent months, faced internal crises and a wave of defections involving top members such as Governors Peter Mbah (Enugu); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta);and Umo Enoh (Akwa Ibom).
The party is also battling multiple legal suits over its forthcoming convention.
He added: “Assuming I am not a minister, by the role I have played in the PDP till now, is it right to say I cannot be consulted in taking decisions of the party? Certainly not.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
