By Ben Adoga, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, yesterday hosted critical stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the aegis of the “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP” at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja.
The meeting, according to inside sources, resolved not to let the party die.
In attendance were Samuel Orton, former Benue State governor,
Ifeanyi Uguanyi, former Enugu State governor, and Okezie Ikpeazu, former Abia State governor.
Others at the meeting included the National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda; serving and former senators; and members of the House of Representatives. Final party leaders and a host of others, including PDP members from Rivers State.
Addressing the meeting, Wike said the concerned stakeholders are those who have always believed and who still believe in the survival of the party.
“All of you here are those who are committed to the survival of our party, not just on TV talking or in the newspapers talking but committed to the party at the various levels.
“Today, this country is stabilised because of the activities of the G5 Governors. You may like us, you may hate us. The truth of the matter is that if G5 had not taken 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.
“If the party had listened to what we said, we wouldn’t have been where we are today, and we have continued to sound it to the party, let the constitution of the party and 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 bringing people together and placating them, not to say that they should go to hell. Let us not allow greed; let us not allow ego to kill our party.”
Wike pointed out that the issue of the national secretary position was not new, as Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State was the Chairman of the party in his state. He noted that Kefas did not resign before contesting for the governorship but instead withdrew his resignation after winning the election.
He stated that the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, also contested the Kebbi State governorship position and retained his seat despite losing the election.
On his part, Samuel Ortom, former Benue State governor, noted that he who pays the piper calls the tune. He challenged anyone in Nigeria to name a Nigerian who has contributed more to the growth of the PDP than Wike.
He said, “The PresidentPresident 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. For whatever reason, PDP made a lot of mistakes, and we are where we are today.”
The late evening meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.
