Wike-Fubara feud, PDP’s internal affair

One of the chairmanship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, Conrad Utaan, has affirmed that the feud between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, would be resolved within the party.

Utaan said this a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

In the past two months, the media has been awash with calls by Chief Edwin Clark for the PDP leadership to consider expelling Wike over his continued agitation for the control of the party structure in the state.

But Utaan said the persistent attacks on the FCT minister by the PANDEF leader and other party leaders such as the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, is unbecoming.

He said, “Former Governor of Rivers State and the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike is an asset to the PDP. Immediately after the last election when people were junketing around the world going to Dubai and America, Wike stayed back and kept the party together.

“It is only fair that he should be accorded the respect that goes with the leadership and followership of the PDP, not to be castigated. The issue of Rivers is an internal affair between the members of the PDP in Rivers State and it can be resolved at that level.

“That is why it is quite unfortunate when you hear comments from the Bauchi governor and a very respected person like Chief Edwin Clark making derogatory remarks about the issues in Rivers State. It is quite unfortunate. This is an internal problem that can be resolved internally by the people concerned. It is an issue between a political godfather and his political godson and they will come to the table at the right time.”

He appealed to the party’s National Executive Committee to cede the seat of the national chairman back to North Central following the exit of Iyorchia Ayu.

While stressing that Umar Damagum has done well in his acting capacity, Utaan appealed for the party to do the right thing in the spirit of peace, unity and reconciliation.

“If the NEC in its wisdom interprets the laws to the effect that the current acting national chairman, Umar Damagun, should continue with the good work he and other members of the NWC are doing, I will accept the decision in good faith and continue to give maximum support to the party a loyal faithful.

“But if it decides that someone from the North-Central should see out the tenure of the current NWC as the national chairman, I am of the firm belief that no other person will be best suited and heeled to discharge that responsibility than my humble self,” he stated.