A former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, has accused the presidency of conniving with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to destroy the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the 2027 general elections.
News360 Info reports that George, during an interview with journalists in Lagos, said Wike’s conduct is becoming a complete embarrassment and a source of shame to Nigerians.
He advised Tinubu to call Wike to order, stressing that Wike and others have no authority to hold any national convention in the name of PDP, and the INEC is aware, but the Presidency is the one manipulating the whole situation.
He said, “This is Tinubu’s administration, not Wike’s administration. From the North to South, East to West, Nigerians are watching. If a crisis starts, the consequences will not be palatable. You claim to be a democrat and you don’t want anybody to contest against you in 2027. Who does that? Is Nigeria a Banana Republic?
“For how long? There is graveyard silence in the country now because Nigerians know the truth. Wike’s conduct is becoming a complete embarrassment and a source of shame to the good people of this country. It is absolute lunacy, talking as if he is the Commander-in-Chief.
“It is absolutely impossible for Wike to be behaving like a power-drunk fellow this way without the backing of Mr President. That the president continues to allow Wike to behave this way shows he is not a good student of history.
“Some of the characters used in the First Republic to destroy that era, nobody talks about them again, but everybody remembers the cover given to them by the Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa.
“Mr President, when the shit hits the fan, you will carry your cross alone. You may be happy now the way Wike is dealing with your so-called enemies and trying to destroy opposition parties, but the end will not be palatable.
“If there is any crisis in Nigeria, it will affect the whole of Africa. Those anti-democracy elements who destroyed the first, second and third republics, where are they today? With a character like Wike, I pray Nigeria does not blow up.
“I can assure the President, INEC and the Judiciary that Nigeria is bigger than them and Nigerians will no longer accept this arrant nonsense from this power-drunk Minister who was not even born when the 1962 crisis started in the Western Region.”
George further likened the situation to the Biblical voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau, noting that the All Progressives Congress (APC), Presidency and Wike are making a big mistake.
He stated, “Erroneously, they think PDP’s approach to normalcy and constitutionalism is stupid. We are calm, cool and composed because of Nigeria. These people are doing everything against the Constitution. Nigerians are not stupid. They are watching.”
The elder statesman insisted that Wike was no longer a member of PDP, saying, “You can see the hand of APC and Presidency in every crisis across political parties. They don’t want another party to field a Presidential candidate against Bola Tinubu in 2027. They are wasting their time.
“Wike said he is leading a faction of the PDP. Which faction? He is no longer a member of our party. He was expelled during our convention in Ibadan last November. He was not the only one. Other characters were expelled with him. Their expulsion stands as of today. So, it doesn’t make any sense for him to be using Federal Government agents, from Abuja to Rivers, intimidating Nigerians, and claiming to be speaking on behalf of a faction of the PDP. He is no longer our member.”
