September 09, (THEWILL) – There is no end in sight to the rivalry between Governor Siminaliayi Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. On a yet to be given date this week, the Peoples Democratic Party disciplinary committee will meet this week to decide among other things, the fate of the Minister. The meeting was understandably postponed last Wednesday to give room for more consultations among party elders.
Events took a turn for the worse last week Saturday when the minister threatened to, “set fire in the states,” governed by governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last week. Since then the governors have collectively denounced him, just as the party has set up a disciplinary committee to look into his alleged anti-party activities and elder statesman, Edwin Clark has petitioned the police to arrest and prosecute the Minister for what he termed treason.
Speaking last Saturday while addressing party members during a factional PDP Congress in Port Harcourt, the former Rivers State governor had said, “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I heard some Governors who said they would take over the structure and give it back to somebody. I pity those Governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”
The threat follows recent calls by the PDP Governors’ Forum, for a review of the party’s congress results in Rivers State to restore Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s leadership of the PDP in the state.
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), described Wike threat as unbridled, irresponsible and totally unacceptable.
The Director-General of the forum, Emmanuel Agbo said the governors resolve to support Fubara remains unchanged.
Noting that no one is above the laws of the land, the governors called on the heads of the national security apparatuses to take note of Wike’s threats.
According to Agbo, “The statements and threats to peaceful coexistence made by Wike to “Put fire” in the PDP controlled states are unbridled, irresponsible and without ambiguity, totally unacceptable as it undermines efforts to build and maintain peace, cohesion, collaboration and mutual respect amongst leaders and members of the party. It is rather unfortunate that this is coming from someone who was once a member of this highly revered forum as a former governor.
“The Forum calls on the heads of the national security apparatuses to take note of threats by Wike to stoke the fire of violence at the sub-nationals as no one is above the laws of the land.”
In a separate submission, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed that Wike and other chieftains of the party, had been summoned through a letter to appear before the Chief Tom Ikimi-led PDP Disciplinary Committee set up by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Abdullahi said, “Wike should be able to manage his words carefully; that was a very disappointing remark. We weren’t expecting him to say that and to be honest with you, we are not with him on that.
“Those were his entitled personal opinions at most. They don’t constitute threats to the PDP, which has survived even worse machinations 25 years down the road. No single individual has the capacity to terminate the life of this party, PDP”, he said.
He disclosed that the party set up two committees of reconciliation and disciplinary and Wike is one of the persons to face the disciplinary committee, which is headed by elder statesman, Chief Tom Ikimi.
According to him, the disciplinary committee will look into issues of anti-party activities. “We’ve been receiving petitions regarding anti-party activities or sabotaging the party throughout the primary, leading to where we are now. These petitions against Wike and other party members have been aggregated and sent to the committee.
“Some party members even felt that Wike shouldn’t have gotten to this level still as a member of the PDP and they have been writing to the leadership.”
Midweek, elder statesman and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Edwin Clark, supported the Forum’s position on the security implications of Wike’s threat and petitioned the Inspector General of Police to arrest and prosecute the Minister.
The South-South leader said he has petitioned the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, to urgently arrest and prosecute Wike.
The Ijaw leader, in a letter to the IGP, read on Thursday during a press briefing at his Asokoro residence, asked Egbetokun to arrest Wike over his threat to set fire in the states of governors of the PDP.
Wike, while speaking at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday during the party’s state congress, warned the PDP governors to stay clear of the party’s affairs in Rivers.
Clark stated that the former State governor’s threat marked a flagrant disrespect to the person of President Bola Tinubu, who appointed him.
He described Wike’s comments as a form of treason, capable of inciting violence in the country.
According to the elder statesman, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, and #EndBadGovernance protesters had been arrested for similar offences.
He insisted that the IGP must do the same with the FCT minister and get him to retract his statements.
A long -time supporter, Chief Olabode George also called the minister to order for making that statement he considered unruly.
George, a former National Vice-Chairman of the party, said in a live broadcast,”The comments by Wike are despicable, no. It is very unfortunate and unacceptable at the same time. Two wrongs don’t make a right. We have to be holistic to prepare the party and to get the party back to what it was. At my age, the way I see all the concern going on I get so scared. Wike has no right to say those things that he said, it was very disturbing to hear that from him. No political party in Nigeria will accept that.
And my suggestion to the National Working Committee is that we should set up a committee of elders, youths and women to look at the activities of the party pre national, during the national election and post national election. Let us address the issue holistically, we have to understand that we have not been fair to some people in this party and that is the reason for this bad blood.”
Former Anambra State Chairman of the party, Dan Ulasi, during the week provided insight into the disciplinary procedure being adopted by the party.
Stating that the crisis within Rivers State, giving the party a headache, Ulasi who disclosed that “the brilliant National Working Committee led by Damagum was working to reposition the party after losing two consecutive presidential elections,” disclosed that the FCT Minister was yet to be summoned. “PDP has not summoned Wike to face any disciplinary committee, a few days ago two committees were formed; the disciplinary committee and the reconciliatory committee. I will be surprised if the disciplinary committee invited him because the reconciliatory committee has to do its work and if found anybody wanting would have to refer him back to the NWC.”
Arguing that he spoke with the national chairman, national secretary, and national organising secretary, and also the party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar during the week in Abuja, “with a view to seeing how we can ensure reconciliation in the party is easier than we see currently,” he said that procedurally, Wike has not been summoned yet because “nobody will meet the disciplinary committee without passing through the reconciliation process.”
“If only the reconciliation fails we now report back to the NWC who will then send such a person to the disciplinary committee for actions, that is supposed to be the process.” Ulasi said.
