Wike rattled by slipping grip on Rivers, fears losing Tinubu’s favour – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is gittery over his declining political influence in Rivers state.

In a statement issued on Monday, Ini Ememobong, PDP spokesperson, said comments made by Wike during his end-of-year media chat showed he is anxious about losing President Bola Tinubu’s favour.

“All through the interview, minister Wike showed obvious signs of fear of losing the attention of the President, his slipping grip of Rivers State, and his frustration with the unbending nature of the true leadership of the PDP at the national level,” the statement reads.

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) early this month—a move Wike reportedly attempted to prevent.

The FCT minister reportedly kicked against Fubara’s defection, as the PDP structure in Rivers he once controlled has now aligned with the APC.

Last week, Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), who led a federal government delegation to Rivers state, told Fubara that Tinubu is “very happy” with him.

Wike, who appeared displeased with the comments, said on Saturday that politicians travelling to the Rivers to proclaim Tinubu’s support for Fubara were seeking a share of the state’s public funds.

‘WIKE BEHIND CRISIS IN PDP SINCE 2015’

Ememobong said Wike’s repeated public declarations that he is a strong supporter of Tinubu, while still claiming membership of the PDP, amounted to open anti-party activity.

He said the minister’s actions confirm the basis of disciplinary action taken against him, describing his conduct as incompatible with democratic norms and party loyalty.

The PDP spokesperson accused Wike of consistently instigating internal crises within the PDP to advance personal political interests.

“Since he assumed office as governor of Rivers state in 2015, Wike has been a recurrent troublemaker in the leadership of the PDP,” he said.

Ememobong claimed Wike had a role in successive leadership battles in the PDP, including his involvement in the removal of Ali Modu Sheriff as national chairman, his later opposition to Uche Secondus after backing his emergence, and his push for Iyorchia Ayu’s appointment before subsequently leading calls for his removal.

“Wike’s politics thrives on perpetual conflict, feeding on attention and seeking relevance through calculated disruption, and when starved of attention, seeks to destroy everything,” the PDP spokesperson said.

“The cumulative effect of these actions is a deliberate creation of tension and division, often deployed as leverage to advance narrow political objectives.”

Ememobong said the Kabiru Turaki-led national working committee (NWC) is working to rebuild the party, resolve pending court cases and position it for electoral success.(The Cable)