By Ben Adoga, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, was suffering from self-inflicted injury and was yet to make the right moves towards reconciliation.
Wike also warned the significant opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of making the same mistakes twice and heading for another electoral defeat.
This Minister said this yesterday during a live media chat with some select media organisations in Abuja.
He said, “This is a self-inflicted injury; he doesn’t need it. When it started, I called him, saying, ‘This thing is bad for you. God has given it to you—why not humbly handle it and not let people push you.”
On the suspended governor meeting with him for peace and reconciliation, Wike said that the suspended governor, beyond meeting him, must also engage other stakeholders, including the state Assembly, the party, and other leaders, if peace is to be achieved.
Wike dismissed claims that the crisis is rooted in internal party issues, insisting that the PDP remains stable in Rivers State.
He disclosed that the suspended governor visited him with two All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and was open to reconciliation. He added that Fubara did not show the capacity to make peace.
“I told him I don’t think you can make this peace,” Wike said.
According to the Minister, Fubara cannot be suing for peace while his lieutenants are busy all over television stations abusing others.
*PDP making same mistake twice
On the crisis bedevilling the PDP, Wike warned the opposition PDP of putting their house to avoid making the same mistakes twice when they produced the National chairman and presidential candidate from the same region.
The PDP lost the 2023 presidential elections due to fighting and not putting its house in order.
He observed that the party was losing again because it had not settled its internal crisis, especially the issue of the National Secretary.
“If the PDP does not put its house in order, it will lose again. They are about to make the same mistakes twice.
“You want to hold NEC, which will issue a notice of NEC. Area council elections are coming up. Who will sign the nomination forms, and who will INEC recognise them?”
Holding a party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting without a valid secretary could jeopardise its political existence because the Supreme Court had already set aside the appeal court judgement that sacked Anyanwu.
“I will challenge the outcome of any meeting of the NEC held without Anyanwu serving as secretary,” he said.
Instead of facing what they should do, he challenged the party leadership by parading his name.
“If you say because Anyanwu is close to Wike, then I will not support; I will not allow someone close to me to be humiliated,” Wike said.
He warned PDP leaders about the consequences of “exclusionary politics and internal manipulation.”
Wike said, “If the PDP doesn’t take care, watch out for what will happen because selfish interest can kill an organisation. You haven’t won an election, but you are excluding people.
“You want to play the same game you played in 2023, it will backfire. I have told people that this smartness will not help you. Wike is telling you now to stop this smartness.”
Accusing the party of selfishness, Wike said, “Leadership is key. If you don’t show exemplary leadership, you will suffer for it, which I have been saying. When people talk about the governor of Delta State and his predecessor moving from the PDP to the APC, what wrong did he do? He said he would support Tinubu, but that was a crime.
“But the Chairman of the BoT, who is the party’s conscience, adopted Otti for a second term. Why are people not commenting on that? The Chairman of the PDP BoT adopted Alex Otti, a governor under the Labour Party, for a second term.
“The only crime I have committed is serving under another party. I’m the only former governor who did not support the presidential candidate but ensured that the PDP won 100 per cent in the governorship, State Assembly, and National Assembly elections.
“Let any sitting or former governor come out and say that happened in their state. If the PDP doesn’t take caution, watch what will happen, selfish interests can destroy an organisation. You haven’t even won an election, yet you’re excluding people.”
The FCT Minister accused the PDP leadership of tolerating impunity and failing to function like a serious opposition party ready to challenge the ruling APC.
“No opposition party allows impunity; it’s only the ruling party. Opposition is going to organise itself to take over the affairs of government.
“How many times have they made efforts? How many people have you wooed? Rather, they are after Wike; they abandoned what they are supposed to do – the only crime is that Wike is a minister under the APC government.”
Speaking on infrastructure in the FCT, Wike said the government’s ambition is to flood the FCT with infrastructure, both in the city centre and in satellite towns.
The provision of potable water in all the area councils is a priority.
“Since Mr. President has attached importance to that, funding will be available.
After the live media chat, the Minister inspected the 15 km INEX road and Jahi interchange under construction for Mr. President’s second inauguration.
