The appointment of one of the current pillars of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nyesom Wike, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is causing ripples in the major opposition party. In this report, ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU takes a look at the development.
Expectations of Nigerians were high when President Tinubu said he would form a national unity and competence. While many thought the government would be formed by the three major political parties that participated in the 2023 presidential election, a few expected him to select technocrats that would help him to turn the country’s economic fortunes around.
After two months, President Tinubu through his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, unveiled the first batch of his ministerial nominees before the Senate.
The 28 list of nominees comprised former governors, serving senators, and a host of others from other aspects of life. In the 28 names submitted, Wike’s nomination has continued to generate discussions among Nigerians, especially within the PDP family, because he’s a member of the main opposition party.
Atiku’s new strategies
Upon the announcement of Wike as a minister-nominee, the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar’s group summoned an emergency meeting.
Recall that shortly after Atiku emerged as the party’s presidential candidate and his choice of the immediate past governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate, the Wike camp withdrew its support, insisting that the then national chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, should resign to give way to a southern person.
Despite the several appeals efforts made to reconcile the Atiku group and Wike’s G5 governors and other leaders within the PDP, both factions worked at cross purposes and the consequence was evident in the outcome of the presidential election.
In recent times, Blueprint Weekend gathered that the unveiling of Wike as APC’s minister-nominee has re-ignited the struggle for the soul of PDP.
Wike, who had over the years, positioned himself as one of the major financiers of the PDP has his people planted everywhere – from serving governors to members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), to the Board of Trustees (BoT) and all other organs of the major opposition party.
Pained by Wike and his group’s role in the 2023 elections in addition to their role in the National Assembly principal officers’ election, the Atiku group has moved to cut down Wike’s influence in the PDP.
A source who was at the Atiku’s group’s meeting that was held recently told this reporter that “what was discussed centred on how to cut Wike’s influence in the PDP, since he’s now working for the APC.”
The source, who does not want his name in print, said, “For us, accepting to work for the APC as a minister shows that he’s no longer part of us. He can not be trusted and should not even be in the PDP programmes or meetings. So, what was discussed is a possible sanction for all those who engaged in anti-party politics and how to reposition the PDP from top to bottom.”
When asked what the sanction would be, he said, “We have not concluded; the meeting was adjourned to give room for wider consultations. So, we are going to meet again.”
According to the source, Atiku’s group knows the Wike loyalists in the NWC and among the governors, but that the former vice-president will lead other concerned leaders to reposition the PDP as a party of choice.
Wike’s vows
However, a loyalist of the former Rivers state governor said any attempt made on Wike would be resisted.The loyalist warned that those plotting to attack Wike would destroy the PDP because he’s rooted across all party structures.
“Where were they when Wike and a few others were building the party? Obviously they were in Dubai. Wike is and will remain a force in the PDP.
“Wike has worked well for the PDP; he has paid his dues and his people are in all the party’s structures. So, anyone who is plotting to attack him must think twice because any attempt on Wike will shatter the PDP.
“All their anger is because President Tinubu, who wants a government of national unity, found Wike worthy and nominated him as a minister-designate. There is nothing new about this and it is not anti-party. Anyone or group that thinks otherwise must follow PDP’s processes otherwise there will be a firework of crises in the party,” the loyalist said.
The source said further that they were aware of Atiku’s group’s plans and that they were also meeting to take necessary actions against them.
PDP mum
Meanwhile, the PDP has indicated that it would speak on the matter at the appropriate time. Its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who was asked whether or not the party was concerned about Wike’s nomination by an APC government, said, “We are only concerned about the suffering of Nigerians caused by President Tinubu’s inhumane removal of fuel subsidy.
“We want to talk about the hardship Nigerians are currently going through now; when it’s time to speak on the Wike matter, the party will speak.”
APC forum’s reaction
In its reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Assembly Forum said Wike was appointed by President Tinubu because of his laudable performance in Rivers state.
The Forum in a statement by its director-general, Amb. Fubara Dagogo, said, “Wike’s nomination by President Bola Tinubu is a testimony of political brinkmanship, national appeal, patriotism, loyalty, and commitment to the cause of the growth and development of our beloved nation Nigeria.”
The statement read in part, “The group is particularly elated with this development as the country will greatly benefit from the performance mentality of the workaholic former governor who just recently transformed the political and socio-economic landscape of Rivers State most fundamentally. We also know that this current trajectory will impact the fortunes of our great party APC in Rivers state and the South-south region.
“We note with joy the calibre and quality of other nominees from across the states that made it into the list of cabinet ministers of this era. The list is a demonstration of balance in all indices of note such as region, gender, age, experience, party loyalty, merit, and capacity to deliver on the Renewed Hope agenda to pull Nigeria up and redirect it toward the prompt attainment of its manifest potentials.
“We commend Mr. President on the tough decisions he has had to take thus far and urge him to stay with the cause, never to be distracted from the goal of ridding the country of bloated opaque government policies that seek to stagnate rather than promote free enterprise, while encouraging corruption and waste.”
An analyst’s take
However, a political analyst, Aminu Mohammed, urged Wike to resign from the PDP, saying “it is the noble thing to do.”
Mohammed said, “It is the right of the president to appoint into his cabinet anyone who he finds competent regardless of political party affiliation. So, the president did not break any law in appointing Wike.
“It is even a plus that President Tinubu found someone from another party worthy of serving in his cabinet. But this remains a moral burden for Wike. Though he accepted a ministerial nomination, the party does not have any other anti-party evidence against him. But the question is can he attend PDP meetings? If he can, will members and leaders of the PDP trust him? You know the answer.
“So, the right thing for Wike to do is to resign his PDP membership. He should free himself from moral bondage.”
