Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has threatened to “put fire” in the states of governors planning to take the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Rivers State and give it to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a viral video seen on Saturday, Mr Wike, while addressing a group of supporters, 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 hear that some governors say they will take over the structure and give 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. Well, anything you see you take.”
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Wike boasted, “Because I heard they got some money from a signature bonus, and so their heads are getting big that they will put a hand in my own state. Prepare, because I have the capacity to also do the same thing in your own state.”
He continued, “Whether you are from Bauchi, I don’t give a damn whichever state you are from. As far as I know that you are trying to put yourself in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt, and you will never sleep in your state.”
The context
With the fight going on between Mr Wike and his enstranged godson, the PDP Governors Forum had, on August 24, 2024, thrown its weight behind Mr Fubara, asking the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to accord the governor his “rightful” position as the leader of the party in the state.
“The PDP Governors’ Forum restates its stand with the Governor of Rivers StMr ate, and will engage the NWC of our great party to revisit the congress with a view to correcting the anomaly and allowing Governor Siminalayi Fubara to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the State,” the forum said in a communique.
Incidentally, the communique was read by Bauchi State Governor, Mr Bala Mohammed, who is the chairperson of the forum. This was most likely what Mr Wike was referring to.
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Mr Wike, former Rivers State governor, helped to bring Governor Fubara to power through his structure in the state. However, they fell apart weeks after the governor’s inaguration.
Mr Fubara and Mr Wike are fighting for the control of the Rivers State political structure. Their collision course has led to the defection of 25 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). It also led to the incineration of the state House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt in October 2023, Economy Post earlier reported.
The Rivers State House of Assembly members loyal to Mr Wike attempted to impeach Mr Fubara but they were resisted by the governor and his allies. The matter is currently in court.
PDP now powerless
During the 2023 general elections, Mr Wike openly opposed the PDP presidential standard bearer, Mr Atiku Abubakar for various reasons.
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Mr Wike had contested the PDP presudential primary election but lost to Mr Abubakar. Mr Wike’s anger was aggravated when Mr Abubakar picked the then Delta State Govenor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as his vice. Political analysts say this is the major cause of the political enstrangement between Mr Wike and his party.
Mr Wike severally openly campaigned against Mr Abubakar and worked for the emergence of the APC presidential candidate, Mr Bola Tinubu, who is now the president. He has been rewarded with a ministerial position. Despite these, the PDP leadership has been incapable of sanctioning Mr Wike and others who worked against the party.
“PDP is completely demaged and weak,” said Political Science lecturer, Mr Adams Tobori. “The PDP is obviously afriad of Wike, but what do they have to lose if they sanction him? And what moral grounds do they have to sanction others if they cannot wield a stick against Wike, Ayodele Fayose, Bode George, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Seyi Makinde and several others who worked against the party during the elections? It is a house divided against itself and it can’t stand except the party goes back to its roots,” he said.
Tweeps knock Wike, PDP
Social media users did not spare Mr Wike and the PDP. An X user, @AheikAnalo, wrote: “The type of utterances these people make and they go unchecked is just crazy.”
READ ALSO: Wike’s threat on governors supporting Fubara highlights PDP’s weakness
Another X user, @Uptownoflagos, wrote: “A minister of government is threatening to set Nigerian states on fire if their governors dare to back their colleague. This guy works for President Tinubu?”
Yet another X user, @TrulyDearest, wrote: “If PDP believes that they will continue to keep Wike because they are afriuad that Makinde, Ugwuanyi, Ikpeazu, Ortom will follow him, then the party is dead.”
