By Ben Adoga, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that there is relative peace within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the exit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar even as he described the opposition coaltion group as mere wild goose chase.
Speaking during his monthly live media parley in his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja, Wike maintained his unalloyed support and commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s ambition for the forthcoming election in 2027.
He, however, berated Atiku recent move to the African Democratic Congress(ADC) describing it as another wild goose chase in his long history of party defection since 1999.
The FCT minister observed that with Atiku’s departure, the PDP has an opportunity to stabilise and focus on internal cohesion, provided party leadership honours democratic processes and regional decisions.
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He continued : “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.
“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?’” he said.
The FCT minister hinted that Atiku’s latest defection was due to his inability to secure PDP’s presidential ticket and desperation to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
“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.
“It is because he cannot get the presidential ticket under the PDP that he pushed for a coalition,” he said.
Wike dismissed the opposition coalition having the likes of former Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi as an unserious venture, saying that such alliances rarely succeed in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The minister also condemned the former Senate President, David Mark, for defecting to AD questioning hia performance while in office as Senate president.
He also commended President Tinubu for demonstrating courage and capacity to take bold decision to lift the country out of economic woods it found itself.
He said: “Our problem is leadership. Tinubu has shown capacity. All former presidents said petroleum subsidy was a scam but did nothing about it. Tinubu removed the subsidy even before the first day in office.
He reiterated his support for a southern president with capacity to turn things around.
The Minister reiterated that he would seal up properties of those owing the ground rent in the FCT.
He expressed dismay that despite the grace period given by President Bola Tinubu, some of the owners had refused to clear their debts.
He said: “Mr. President said two weeks, more than three months since the grace period. That is Nigeria for you.
“We have just finished a programme. I am going to seal up all those properties; I’m going to seal them up.”
The minister said the government would no longer allow property owners to deny it the taxes needed for development.
“You can’t deny us the taxes we use for development. Pay us the taxes that you are supposed to pay, you said, ‘No’.
“We have listened to Mr. President. In his wisdom, he said, ‘Give them two weeks, give them two months. We have done that.
“Some have done that. Some have refused to comply,” Wike said.
He vowed that he would not listen to those who would accuse him of playing politics or discouraging investors when the FCTA seals the affected properties.
