A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has said that the Party made the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who he is today irrespective of what he thinks
Chief George, who was Deputy National Chairman of the (PDP – South), stated this while condemning the Monday’s sealing of the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said that the action by Wike was a complete betrayal.
George, who stated these when he featured on Arise Television on Monday, described the sealing of the PDP National secretariat on the orders of Wike as absolutely sacrilegious, culturally unacceptable and politically indefensible.
The PDP chieftain said; “The minister of the FCT, Wike must know and appreciate the fact that this is the very party that brought him to national prominence. It is the PDP since 1999 that made Wike Local Government Chairman, Chief of Staff to PDP Governor, Minister of State and Governor for 8 years.
“Wike’s action is like someone returning to his ancestral village only to lock up or sell the family house over a trivial debt. What is the motive behind sealing off the party secretariat because of over a N7 million ground rent debt which Wike could have resolved without resorting to such a public show of hostility.
“If your family house has a backlog of ground rent, do you return as chairman of the local government to lock it up? Seven million naira is not a monumental amount. That is something you, Wike, could easily settle, especially for the party that gave you everything,” he said.
Chief George also questioned the selective enforcement of land use charges, saying that even the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) might be owing similar fees.
He said; “If the authorities investigate the APC’s national headquarters, it may be found to be defaulting as well. Such administrative lapses can happen and it should not be used as tools of vendetta”.
Chief George however, urged PDP leadership to wake up to the reality of its internal challenges and external threats and ensure unity and accountability within the party, stressing that allowing personal grievances or power plays to override collective interest could damage the PDP’s long-standing legacy.
He further said; “This public embarrassment is a wake-up call for the PDP. We must sit up. The Minister must also be reminded that no position eternity. Today you are in power, tomorrow you are not. What legacy will you leave behind?” he asked.
Chief George said that it must be understood that no individual can privatize the PDP, stressing that the party has
resilience and wide-reaching structure which makes it difficult for an individual to want to take control or personalise the party.
According to George; “There is no political party in this country that matches the PDP in terms of structure, spread, and experience. Nobody, absolutely no one can hijack the party or convert it into private property. That will never happen”.
Chief George spoke against the backdrop of the withdrawal of Wike from the PDP’s reconciliation efforts viz-a-vis the former governor of Rivers State, accepting a ministerial appointment in the APC-led federal government, but still maintaining his membership of the party.
