December 29, (THEWILL) — The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has rejected claims by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, that he promised President Bola Tinubu to “hold down” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, insisting that politics has rules and is not like operating as a contractor with Shell.
Makinde had alleged that Wike voluntarily pledged to undermine the opposition party to aid Tinubu’s re-election bid, a claim that has since heightened tensions within the PDP.
“Wike said he was going to hold the PDP down for President Tinubu”, Makinde had asserted during a public address, citing the statement as the source of their ongoing political rift. The governor also expressed regret over supporting Tinubu in the 2023 elections and vowed not to back him in 2027, citing concerns over Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a year-end media chat on Monday, Wike questioned why Makinde had delayed raising the allegation if such a meeting had indeed occurred.
“Why did Seyi Makinde not come up all this while to tell the party, ‘see what Wike is doing?’ I was in a meeting. I saw what Wike said. It’s not correct,” he said.
Wike clarified that the meeting with President Tinubu was a post-election discussion involving himself, former governors, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Makinde. He emphasised that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss national issues, not to strategise against the PDP.
“There was nothing like a meeting we booked to go and see Mr President. So, it is completely out of place for anybody to say that in that meeting I told Mr President that I would hold PDP down for him”, he stated.
Describing Makinde’s claim as “very, totally unfair”, Wike added, “Politics is not like being a contractor with Shell. Politics has different rules. There is nothing wrong with having ambition, but the ambition must be pursued according to the rules.”
Wike urged PDP leadership to urgently resolve internal disputes ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that failure to do so could cost the party its chances of winning major political offices.
“We have a leadership that is not focused, we have a leadership that does not know what to do or take any suggestions. If the leadership is committed and comes back to say we have made a mistake, why is it that things are happening this way, and what do we do to make corrections? It is not just to take over the government; you have to position yourself. If the leadership is like that, you say look by 2027, it is likely that we may not make it, but are we going to allow the party to die? Can’t we start to build up and make the right decision against 2027? It all depends on the leadership”, he said.
Wike also criticised the PDP’s National Convention held on November 15 in Ibadan, alleging that Makinde sought absolute control of the party and secured an ex parte court order to ensure the convention proceeded.
In a separate matter, Wike accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of refusing to reinstate the Paramount Ruler of Emohua, His Royal Highness Eze Ohna Sergent Awuse, as Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.
According to the Minister, Awuse, who fell ill and went into a coma, was removed from the chairmanship, and a replacement, Eze Chike Worlu WodoWodo, Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, was appointed by Fubara.
THEWILL recalls that Eze Awuse was replaced by the Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Eze Chike Worlu WodoWodo, following the expiration of Awuse’s tenure in June 2024.
Earlier, Wike had warned that sudden declarations of support for President Tinubu do not automatically secure a second term for Fubara in the 2027 governorship elections.
Speaking during a Christmas visit to supporters at Awuse’s palace in Emohua Local Government Area on Sunday, the Minister insisted that claims of standing on the President’s mandate cannot override existing political agreements in Rivers.
He argued that support for the President should not be used as a bargaining tool in state politics, criticising Fubara’s supporters who recently declared loyalty to Tinubu despite previously demanding the removal of Rivers State House of Assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress.
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