Elder statesman and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, has affirmed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is a bona fide member of the party.
George added that Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State, had written a letter to the party, stating his intention to work in the ruling All Progressive Congress government led by President Bola Tinubu.
The former National Vice Chairman of the PDP (Southwest) gave the insights on the accusations that Wike was working against the PDP, during his interview on the News Day programme on Arise TV on Tuesday.
When asked if the minister is working against the party, George said, “That’s exactly what I’m driving at. They (Wike and Atiku) just didn’t get out in different directions, something happened. And the party leaders must come down, do an in-depth post-mortem analysis of what happened.”
However, George justified Wike’s appointment in the APC-led government, saying, “Once party A wins an election, it opens the door to say, ‘Let’s have a united group. When Obasanjo won the election in 1999, he invited people from ANPP, APGA, AD,” citing examples of the late Chief Bola Ige who served as the Attorney-General of the Federation, while he was a member of the Alliance for Democracy.
“We can’t just have a Berlin wall to say that once you’re a member of this, you can’t serve there. The fact that you’re serving there doesn’t mean you’ve left your party.
“According to Wike, he wrote a letter to serve in the APC government. He still plays the music. How can he work against the PDP? I don’t believe it,” adding that “there are issues to be sorted out.”
Reacting to the statement made by one of the party’s chieftain in Lagos State, Adetokunbo Pearse, who stated that the party has been suffering in the state due to its weak structure, George said, “I just came back from Ibadan where we had an elders’ meeting in respect to discordant voices that are coming out from Ondo State. People should get back to their various Local Governments and contribute their quota.
“It’s unfair for committed members of the party to make such assertions in public. Discipline is part of the management in any organsation. What Pearse said isn’t correct,” adding that the party leadership is working on numerous reformations.
He expressed his delight at the meeting held in Oyo State which was chaired by Governor Seyi Makinde, saying, “It’s a brilliant move.”
George stated that the party is committed to “forge ahead” amidst its troubles, urging leaders to work according to the constitution.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Wike, have continued to hold on to their structures in the PDP and working at cross-purposes.
Wike led the G5 governors which comprise Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and some other stakeholders in the PDP to work against Atiku in the 2023 presidential election.
A chieftain of the PDP in an interview with Sunday PUNCH revealed that organs in the party were split into two, with one for Atiku and another for Wike.
Speaking on the grounds of anonymity, the source said, “How do we reconcile? How can the party move on or reposition itself when the organs are divided? As we speak now, the party is divided. Just the way you have it before and during the 2023 election, a group for Atiku and the other for Wike.
“Some members of the National Working Committee are for Wike and others are for Atiku. The members of the PDP Board of Trustees are loyal to Atiku and Wike. The PDP Governors’ Forum that should direct the party is also divided, with some still loyal to Wike, others to Atiku, while a few neutral governors, he added.
