A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olabode George, has condemned the anti-party activities of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, noting that they are embarrassing the party and urging them to leave immediately.
George noted that the duo cannot dig on the same plate as the opposition party and still claim to be a member of the PDP.
Recall that there has been fallout between the duo since the 2023 presidential primary election. Wike was later appointed a minister by the opposition President. He has been giving his support to the APC but has stated that he remains a PDP member. His actions, however, do not show any support for the party he belongs.
In his recent move, after the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the former Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the APC, Wike commended them for throwing their weight behind President Bola Tinubu.
He added that Okowa’s defection to the ruling party vindicates his (Wike’s) political stance in the last general election.
He said; “It is another endorsement of the president’s good governance and commitment to the development of the country.”
“I commend Dr Okowa and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for this heart-warming decision, which must have been informed by good governance and commitment of President Bola Tinubu to the oneness and development of Nigeria.
“That is what I have always told people to come out and say, not when they have problems and begin to run up and down.
“They have come out at the right time to show support for the President so that the people of Niger Delta can benefit more from the government, and I commend them.
George who said anyone tired of the PDP should leave said: “What exactly is going on? Anybody who is tired of PDP should leave and join another party. Enough of this embarrassment. As a founding elder of this party, I will not watch while some people openly disrespect the party. It is impossible.”
“Wike has been given a direct order to win FCT for APC and he still claims to be a member of PDP. Are people now shameless politically that they cannot be principled? Where is the leadership of our party? Why are they tolerating Atiku and Wike? Why are they allowing the duo to continue to embarrass our party publicly?
George also throw a stone at Atiku for visiting former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna with other politicians, noting that he is getting involved in anti-party activities.
“Now, some governors are joining them to endorse Tinubu’s reelection in 2027. I ask again: what exactly is going on in our party? Has discipline gone to the dogs? Has everything broken down completely? Has sanity taken flight in the way we run the party now?
“Nigerians are yearning for change, which only the PDP can offer because ours is the only organised party. Apart from Ganduje, who else do you know in APC NWC? APC is a one-man show being controlled from the Villa.
“This is the time for the national leadership of PDP to take decisive steps to save our great party. As a founding member of our party and an elder statesman, I call on other elders of our party to call Atiku and Wike to order, as the two are not bigger than the PDP.
“They cannot continue hobnobbing with enemies of our party and think I will keep quiet. The truth must be told every time without minding whose ox is gored.
“This is the time to save our party from those undermining PDP from within. If Atiku is strategising on how to form a coalition with others because of 2027, he should do that outside the structure of our party. You cannot be within and be working against the interest of this party. We will never allow that.
“Wike’s case is very clear to everybody. He wants to be in the good books of Tinubu while working against our party. He is an adult and knows what is good for him politically, but you cannot claim to be in the PDP and be working against the interest of the party.
“The moment we remove the liabilities in our party, we will be in a formidable position, as an opposition party, to take over power from APC at the federal level in 2027.
