The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Abdullahi has disclosed that former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike notified the leadership of the party before accepting the ministerial slot from President Bola Tinubu.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has said on several occasions that he notified the party before accepting to serve in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
According to Abdullahi, “Before he accepted the appointment of the governing party, Governor Wike decided to accept the offer after informing the party. In other words, he had written to the party stating his position. But the party did not respond to him, whether to confirm its approval for him to accept the appointment or for him not to take the position. What we just did was to keep mum and watch events.
“In the letter he wrote to the party, Wike explained that he was going to answer the clarion call by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Therefore, the party has not taken a position as to whether or not that will be in its interest.”
Another NEC member said, “They cannot deny it; they were all informed. He informed them that Tinubu wanted to form a government of national unity and competence and he gave him a ministerial offer.”
The former governor said, “The two leaders (Atiku and Wike) are dividing the leadership of the party with their utterances and this is not good for us as a party in opposition,” as he warned that the future of the party might be worse than it is currently if urgent steps were not taken to address what he called the leadership gap in the party.
He added, “The party is facing an uncertain future. As a leader of the party, I am shocked that Mr. Umar Damagum (the acting National Chairman) is yet to present his plan for the party before the stakeholders. He is torn between his loyalty to Atiku and Wike. As things stand, things would only get worse because either Atiku or Wike must give way for the party to breathe.
“My stand is that the leadership of the party should stand its ground and deal with those who worked against the party. If this is not done, discipline will be difficult to enforce in the future.”
