*Says PDP will die if he defects to APC
Members of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have put aside partisan differences and embraced President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, stated this while addressing leaders, youths and women in Etche and Omuma Local Government Areas during a “thank you” visit on Monday.
According to the former Rivers governor, APC and PDP had already collapsed into one family, the “Renewed Hope family’, for the good of the people of the state.
He stated that in Rivers, political labels now matter less than unity and collective commitment for development.
Wike said that the collaboration across party lines was driven by shared values, mutual respect and the desire to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
“I don’t want to hear again, ‘I am PDP’ or ‘I am APC’. What I want to hear is that we are working together. All of us are members of the Renewed Hope family. It is one family,” he added.
He explained that the visit to Etche and Omuma council areas was not for a political campaign but to appreciate the people for their long standing support.
The FCT minister commended the leadership of the two local council chairmen, describing them as central to sustaining unity and political stability in the areas.
“We didn’t come for any rally. I am here to say ‘thank you’ for the support you have given to us over the years because we are not ungrateful people.
“Agreement is agreement. When you agree with people, you must keep it.
“I urge party leaders and elected officials to honour commitments made in the interest of peace and development,” he said.
Wike stressed that unity remained key to political and economic progress at the grassroots, stressing that “when you are united, you get results; when you are divided, you lose”.
He also thanked women, youths and community leaders for their cooperation and support, noting that the peaceful atmosphere during the visit reflected a growing political maturity in the state.
PDP WILL DIE
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will collapse if he defects to All Progressive Congress (APC).
Wike stated this during his end-of-the-year media chat in Port Harcourt on Monday, while responding to a question on whether he would join the ruling APC or not.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wike’s supporters in Rivers House of Assembly, including Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, had recently dumped PDP and joined APC.
Wike, however, insisted that he is still a member of PDP and not considering leaving the party.
“Today if I say I want to decamp to APC, that will be the end of PDP. You will see leaders of the party in other states who will join me.
“If today I say, gentlemen look, we have had enough of PDP, watch those who will decamp in Benue; watch those who will decamp in Plateau, in Abia, in Edo,” he said.
“But the mere fact that people have left PDP to APC does not mean I have to leave. No, it is not correct. I am still a member of PDP,” he said.
Speaking on the possible take-over of his political structure in Rivers by Fubara, Wike assured his supporters that his political relevance in the state was incontestable.
He added that he still holds his political structure in the state.
According to him, Fubara’s defection to APC does not necessarily make him the leader of the party in the state, like the case in Lagos and Kano states.
“There are exceptions to the rule. There is nothing like 001 in the state, you register in your ward and not at the state level.
“So, if there is 001, it is in your ward, because every party member registered in his ward,” he said.
The minister further said that beyond being a governor, there must be exceptional qualities that makes one a leader, worthy of followership.
He argued that Fubara’s defection to APC was of no consequence, stressing that he joined the party alone.
“If a governor is moving to another party, he moves with council chairmen, party leaders and members of the state assembly.
“In his case, the people have already left the PDP and joined the APC on their own, as such, defecting to APC doesn’t guarantee him an automatic ticket for second tenure,” Wike said.
