- Says ‘I’ll remain in PDP, I don’t run away from battles’
- I can’t be intimidated to resign, Damagum fumes
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that he will not respond to calls by the leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, for him to be investigated and kicked out of the People’s Democratic Party, noting that the latter is not a member of the party.
The Minister said this on Wednesday, during a media parley with newsmen, to mark his first year in office as the FCT Minister.
Clark, in a letter to the National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, on Tuesday, urged him to “immediately set up a probe panel/committee to probe members like Nyesom Wike. He said, if found guilty, Wike should face the appropriate sanctions as prescribed by the party’s constitution.
“I am writing to bring to your attention the activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, who is using his closeness to President Bola Tinubu to intimidate the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the party,” Clark said.
Clark, who is also the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, said, “I cannot stand by and allow the minister to continue to hound the governor. If we do not stop him, the matter will consume him, Wike, and their cohorts.”
Responding, however, Wike said he did not recognise Clark as a member of the party, stating that the Ijaw leader stood against his ambition to be governor in 2014, despite which he had contested and won, and that no one had contributed to the progress of the party as he had.
He also said that there was nothing for him to be investigated for, noting that the elder statesman had called for a Southern Presidency, which he had heeded and also supported.
“I don’t know the party that Chief Clark belongs to. Frankly speaking, since I entered the PDP, I have never seen him at any PDP meeting. I do not like to react to elder statesmen like that. But let me tell you the history so that people will know. In 2014 when I came out to run, Edwin Clark now said no, that it was the turn of the Ijaws, and that nothing would make me be the governor. I said ‘well, it is my right to run, and if I fail and I come back’. But to the Glory of God, I ran, and I won.
“Since then, Edwin Clark has written me letters, but I have refused to talk to anybody. I said I would not answer. I was not a bad person when I championed for the Ijaw man to be governor; I have become a bad person simply because there are issues, and I kept quiet.
“There is nothing Chief Edwin Clark, an elder statesman has not said, but I will never, I will not reply to anything. If there is anybody who has contributed to the growth of PDP as far as today, it is me. So, when I read that he said they should investigate me, investigate me for what? He was one of those who were talking about a Southern president, and I supported a Southern president, so what are you going to investigate me for? Chief Edwin Clark was one of those who said power must rotate to go to the South, so what is the crime I have committed that I also believe in?,” he said.
Wike added, “I don’t run away from any fight. I will stay there, I will fight it out. Who am I going to run from? The vampires? I cannot do that!”
When asked by a journalist if he sees himself leaving the PDP in the future, Wike responded, “Anybody who knows me knows too well if I want to join APC today… when I was then PDP and I said ‘look, I will not support your presidential candidate’, Did I say it secretly? Or those people that are saying those things, did they bring one member that won the election?”
The minister also highlighted his commitment to principle, stating, “Did PDP not win (in Rivers State)? I stood my ground in terms of the principle that if this is not done, we will not accept it. People must know you for something. Integrity is very important. Forget about those that are saying this, they are afraid of my face.”
I can’t be intimidated to resign, says PDP chair
Also, the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagum, has said no one can pressure him into stepping down from his position.
The PDP has been dealing with internal disputes both before and after the 2023 elections.
Damagum has been repeatedly blamed by party members for contributing to the ongoing crisis.
He said, “Let me send a message to everyone talking about Damagum this, Damagum that – I cannot be intimidated. The more you mention me, the more popular I become.”
He mentioned that the criticisms only enhanced his popularity, and that he was even considering running for the presidency due to this increased recognition.
While speaking at the inauguration of the National Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committees, chaired by Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Tom Ikimi, respectively, Damagum expressed frustration with individuals “who lack knowledge of the National Working Committee operations yet spread misinformation to the public.”
