MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has vowed to stand his ground and fight for his principles, amidst an internal crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking at a media parley on Wednesday, marking his first anniversary as a minister, Wike declared, “I don’t run away from any fight. I will stay there, I will fight it out. Who am I going to run from? The vampires? I cannot do that!”
Wike’s statement comes amidst speculation that he may leave the PDP due to the internal crisis in the party, particularly against him. However, the minister has consistently maintained that he will not abandon his principles, even if it means standing alone.
A former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had called on the National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, to expel Wike from the party to save it from destruction.
In an open letter to Damagun, Clark stated: “I am writing to bring to your attention the activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, who is using his closeness to President Bola Tinubu to intimidate the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the party.”
Clark, who is also the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, said: “I cannot stand by and allow the minister to continue to hound the governor. If we do not stop him, the matter will consume him, Wike, and their cohorts.”
When asked by a journalist if he sees himself leaving the PDP in the future, Wike responded, “Anybody who knows me knows too well if I want to join APC today… when I was then PDP and I said ‘look, I will not support your presidential candidate’, Did I say it secretly? Or those people that are saying those things, did they bring one member that won election?”
The minister also highlighted his commitment to principle, stating, “Did PDP not win (in Rivers State)? I stood my ground in terms of the principle that if this is not done, we will not accept it. People must know you for something. Integrity is very important. Forget about those that are saying this, they are afraid of my face.”
On his feud with the Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Mr Wike ruled out the possibility of a rapproachement with the governor.
Wike said he’s not going back on his decision on Fubara. According to him,he’s focused on delivering PresidentTinubu’s mandate and not supporting Fubara.
Wike and Fubara have been at loggerheads since the governor assumed office.
The face-off between the duo affected the state House of Assembly, leading to fictionalisation.
Despite attempts by President Tinubu and other relevant political stakeholders, the crisis has persisted.
Wike said: “In good conscience, I fought for Fubara to become governor without any regrets and you now say you don’t want to be part of the family; no problem. Aregbesola, too, was brought by Tinubu, but he’s no longer with the president again.
“In all honesty, I can tell you that there is no going back and my people know. What support? Have I come out of the one I did? Some people don’t play politics of integrity, but I do. He’s the one that says ‘dey your dey’ so let me ‘dey my dey.’
“This doesn’t worry me because I’m focused on the mandate Mr President gave me in FCT.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media