Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership to summon his counterpart in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to order. Accusing the governor of using his cronies to destabilize the state’s political party.
Obaseki’s comments followed the governor of Rivers State’s recent verbal attacks on his deputy, Philip Shaibu, who threatened Shuaibu with disciplinary action.
Obaseki warned that political bullies and overlords in any disguise will not be tolerated in Edo, accusing Wike of hatching a plan to secure delegates in order to realize his alleged personal ambition to run for president in 2023.
“His Excellency, Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Nyesom Wike’s recent personal attacks against my Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, is to say the least, most unfortunate and totally uncalled for,” he said.
“If Governor Wike didn’t respect and courtesy his fellow governors, he would have reached out to me to express his concerns about the views expressed by my deputy governor, rather than launching this unwarranted public attack.”
“My deputy governor was a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and his comment encapsulates the spirit of the country’s youth, who are willing to speak out and challenge the status quo. How can Governor Wike aspire to lead the Nigerian youth if he doesn’t understand and respond appropriately to their style and character? Governor Wike should have learned from the manner in which our party’s National Chairman, Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, responded to my deputy’s remarks, as a conscientious leader capable of showing empathy and consideration.
“My deputy governor’s concerns bordered on pertinent issues affecting the PDP in Edo State, which has been able to register over 500,000 members since the September 19th 2020 elections, and these new members have not been properly integrated into our party after two years.”
Also, the leaders, executives, and members who joined the party with me have yet to be accepted, integrated, or harmonised.
“More concerning is the fact that old Edo PDP members who are open to inclusion and supportive of the party’s growth are being vilified and ostracized by a cabal purportedly led by Chief Dan Orbih, who is your perpetual guest in Port Harcourt and is remotely used to orchestrate the party’s destabilization in Edo State.”
“A political solution led to the emergence of Chief Dan Orbih, first as Acting National Vice Chairman, South South, and then as Substantive National Vice Chairman, South South, of our party, when Chief Emma Odidi resigned to allow Chief Orbih to ascend.
“It’s therefore perplexing why this type of political solution is no longer viable in resolving the Edo State PDP’s political impasse.”
We can categorically state that the deputy governor never threatened the party in his remarks, as Governor Wike claims. Governor Wike, on the other hand, has threatened the PDP on several occasions. The following are a few examples:
1. On September 16, 2018, Governor Wike warned the party that relocating the National Convention from Port Harcourt in the run-up to the 2019 presidential election would result in dire consequences.
2. On September 12, 2019, Governor Wike threatened to destabilize the party by appointing Hon. Ndudi Elumelu as the House of Representatives Minority Leader.
Governor Wike, like others, has undoubtedly contributed to the party’s advancement since 1999.
“No one is opposed to him running for president; however, his ambition should not be pursued in such a way that it causes disruption at various levels, such as the PDP Governors’ Forum and various chapters of the party across the country.”
“It clearly amounts to arrogance to believe that any one man owns or has a greater stake in the PDP, and that everyone should pander to him.”
“We are all equal stakeholders in the party, and the party’s position should be formed by the sum of the ideas, opinions, and contributions of all leaders and members, not by the viewpoint of one individual or a select few.”
“While Governor Wike is free to use his resources as he sees fit in pursuit of his ambition, he should avoid cowing, intimidating, cajoling, or threatening others into doing his bidding.” Edo State cannot and will not be obtained for the sake of any individual’s personal ambition.
“What Nigeria needs now are strong democratic institutions, not strong men; that is why we will join our party’s great leaders across the country in building PDP into a strong, large, and indestructible party that will win the presidential election next year.”
“Governor Wike and his Edo State collaborators, led by Chief Dan Orbih, will not succeed in destabilizing the PDP in Edo State, as they did in other states such as Cross River, in order to secure delegates for his alleged personal ambition to run for president in 2023.”
“We don’t accept political bullies and overlords in Edo, and we’ve demonstrated our ability to free ourselves and dethrone bullies and highhanded leaders throughout history.”
“I implore all well-intentioned leaders of our great party to summon Governor Wike and order him to cease and desist from his current rash and disruptive behavior. According to all indications, the PDP is on track to take over Nigeria’s leadership if we can rein in the self-interest of a few leaders and force them to prioritize the task of rescuing Nigeria over their personal ambitions.”
