By Ayomide Otitoju
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has issued a stern warning to any governor who attempts to interfere in the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, vowing to ignite political crises in their states. Wike made the declaration during the PDP state congress held at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
“Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of PDP from us,” Wike asserted. “I hear some governors say they will take over the structure and give it back to someone else. I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states.”
Wike specifically targeted Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, promising to make life difficult for governors who challenge his authority in Rivers State. “I don’t care if you are from Bauchi or any other state. If you try to interfere in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt, and you will never sleep peacefully in your state,” he warned.
Wike’s comments follow a meeting of PDP governors in Taraba State, where they discussed the ongoing crisis within the party in Rivers State, a conflict primarily between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The governors’ forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, expressed their support for Fubara, calling for a review of the party congress results to restore Fubara’s leadership role in Rivers State.
“The Forum notes the political impasse in Rivers State where court judgments are employed to determine the outcome of the party congresses,” the forum’s communique stated. “The PDP Governors’ Forum stands with the Governor of Rivers State and will engage the NWC of our great party to revisit the congress with a view to correcting the anomaly and allowing His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the state.”
The internal conflict in Rivers PDP has escalated following the fallout between Wike and Fubara. Governor Fubara was notably absent from Saturday’s congress, which was attended by Wike, along with several current and former lawmakers, former council chairmen, and other party members. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also had its Resident Electoral Commissioner and other officials present to monitor the proceedings.
