As the crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, continues to linger, a group known as PDP Frontiers for Change and Progress, has lambasted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, for calling Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, betrayers.
According to the PDP group, contrary to claims by Wike, the former Rivers’ Governor “is rather the real betrayer and architect of the crisis” destabilising the PDP.
The group spoke on the heels of Wike’s allegation against Mbah and Makinde who he claimed, were responsible for the lingering tussle in the party.
Wike, who on Sunday announced his withdrawal from all truce made by stakeholders to resolve the PDP impasse, alleged that the duo of Mbah and Makinde, had made reconciliation impossible.
The FCT Minister claimed that the stakeholders had earlier agreed that Senator Samuel Anyanwu be retained as the PDP’s National Secretary, and that all suits against the Rivers’ Emergency Rule be withdrawn.
But he accused Makinde and Mbah of reneging on the truce, although the leadership of the PDP had since distanced itself from the purported agreement which it said was not known to the party.
Wike said: “To my chagrin, Seyi Makinde had connived with Peter Mba of Enugu State to orchestrate the summoning of the meeting of so-called South-East leaders to recommend that if Ude Okoye was not adopted as Secretary, they would pull out of the PDP,” Wike claimed in his Sunday statement.
“I have now firmly decided to pull out of all agreements hitherto reached; I have decided to fight on until justice is attained,” Wike added.
Meanwhile, the PDP support group, in a swift reaction, accused Wike of “standing truth in the head.”
It further said “Wike is being smart by half,” and “mounting smear campaign to blackmail Mbah and Makinde.”
National Coordinator of the group, Emeka Yellow Ikpegbu, expressed shock and disappointment that Wike resorted to blackmail against those striving to rebuild the PDP.
“Wike and his bootlickers dragging the leadership of PDP in some of the states are the destabilising forces on a mission to sink the party,” the group said.
“Instead of masquerading as a peace maker while he is the one igniting the fire, Wike should better leave PDP,” Ikpegbu said.
“Wike should stop pretending. We know his spirit has since left PDP after sabotaging the party in 2023. Now is the time to completely pull out of the party, and not just pulling out of the so-called gentleman agreement. We want him to also pull out of the PDP. He has given us enough discomfort.
“We know Wike and his antics. Can he swear that he is not on a mission to destroy PDP? What anti-party is worse than a so-called PDP stakeholder openly working for the ruling APC against his own party? Who is causing the crisis in Rivers State? Is it to his credit as a good party man that less than two years he left office as Governor of Rivers State, the PDP which made him collapsed in the state, and the state enmeshed in chaos?
“Wike’s latest antics is to blackmail committed PDP members who are not willing to surrender the soul of the party to him and his APC allies.
“Before now he was after the BoT Chairman of our great party, Senator Adolphus Wabara for refusing to be cowed and bought over. Now he has shifted his attacks to His Excellencies, Governors Mbah and Makinde. Is it still in doubt that he is frustrated and on a mission to blackmail those committed to rebuilding the PDP?
“Can he deny that APC is using him to destabilise PDP so that his principal, President Bola Tinubu will have a smooth sail in 2027? But they will be disappointed! We, and Nigerians already know them for whom they are, and they are frustrated because of the emerging signals.”
The group which declared support for Governors Mbah and Makinde as well as “all those genuinely committed to PDP’s renaissance,” urged the duo to ignore Wike and his antics.
Alleging that “Wike is not a dependable ally,” the group advised President Tinubu and the APC to “properly weigh the implications of trusting Wike,” arguing that “if he could come out in the open to attack Makinde who was his backbone in the G5 few months ago, then he can do same to his current lovers.”
“Can a man who can’t keep his friends ever be trusted? Can Wike tell Nigerians why he suddenly sees Makinde as a foe?
“Was it because Makinde won his re-election unlike other G5 members Wike betrayed who woefully lost their elections and their respective states?
“Why is Wike fighting Siminalayi Fubara? Is he the only former Governor PDP has produced? We pity Tinubu and APC for trusting a man who has a history of betraying those on whose back he rode. Political polygamists can never be dependable allies.
“Why is Wike always having frosty relationship with his benefactors? Tinubu should better ask Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Peter Odili, Chibuike Amaechi and others, the true identity of his new-found lover before trusting him with his political destiny. A leopard cannot change his colour.”
The group commended the PDP National leadership, BoT and the party’s Governors’ Forum for their efforts to recover and reposition the party.
“We repose confidence in the on-going efforts of the Gov. Bala Mohammed -led PDP Governors Forum, the Senator Wabara-led BoT, and the National Working Committee, of our great party to reposition PDP for victories ahead of 2027.”
● Report by Ikengaonline.com
