PDP Is Not Your Personal Property – Obaseki Slams Wike

Governor Godwin Obaseki has said that the recent personal attacks by the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Nyesom Wike, against the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu is most unfortunate and totally uncalled for. CHANNELS reports.

Governor Obaseki showed his anger at the development in a statement on Monday.

The Governor added that if Wike was one who won’t show respect and courtesy to his colleague-governors, he would have ordinarily reached out to him to express his concerns about the views made by Comrade Shaibu, rather than embark on an unwarranted public onslaught.

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The rift between Governor Wike and the Edo State deputy governor stemmed from a comment made by the latter suggesting that many supporters of Obaseki who defected with the governor from APC to the PDP are not happy and do not feel accepted into the new party.

Shaibu asked the national leadership of the PDP to “integrate” his supporters and those of his principal into the party, threatening that there are possibilities of an exodus.

In reaction to these comments, Wike calls out Shaibu, saying he is an ingrate.

The Rivers State Governor asked the national chairman of the PDP to constitute a disciplinary committee against the deputy governor of Edo State, stressing that if this is not done, he (Wike) will invoke the sanctions of the party and will make sure they must discipline Shaibu.

Defending his deputy governor, Obaseki in his lengthy statement said Shaibu “was a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Student (NANS) and his comment is representative of the essence of the nation’s youth population, who are inclined to openly speak up and question the status quo. Information Guide Nigeria

Obaseki was of the opinion that if Governor Wike cannot understand and adequately respond to the style and character of the Nigerian youth, how can he aspire to lead them?

“His Excellency, Governor Wike should have taken a cue from the manner in which the National Chairman of our party, Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, responded to my deputy’s remarks, as a conscientious leader who is able to show empathy and consideration,” the Edo Governor stated.

According to him, the concerns expressed by his deputy governor bordered on pertinent issues affecting the PDP in Edo State which since the September 19th, 2020 elections, has been able to register over 500,000 members; and till date, these new members have not been properly integrated into our party after two years. jamb results

He added also that the leaders, executives, and members who came with him into the PDP have still not been accepted, integrated or harmonized into the party.

Speaking further on the matter, Obaseki stressed in the comments of Shaibu, the deputy governor at no point threatened the party as Governor Wike has alleged.
“Rather, it is Governor Wike, who has at different times, threatened the PDP.

“Some of these instances include:

“1. On September 16, 2018, Governor Wike threatened the party that there would be grave consequences if it moved the National Convention from Port Harcourt in the run up to the 2019 presidential election.

“2. On September 12, 2019, Governor Wike also threatened to cause trouble for the party over the emergence of Hon. Ndudi Elumelu as the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives,” Obaseki explained.

He said it cannot be doubted that Governor Wike has contributed to the advancement of the PDP, just like others, since 1999.

The governor further asserted that no one is against Wike’s desire to run for president, however, “his ambition should not be embarked on in such a way that it would cause disruption at different levels, such as the PDP Governors’ Forum as well as different chapters of the party across the country.

“It clearly amounts to delusion of grandeur, for any one man to nurse the idea that he owns or has more stake in the PDP and everyone should pander to him.

“We are all equal stakeholders in the party and an aggregate of the ideas, opinions and contributions of all leaders and members should form the position of the party and not the view of one individual or a select few,” Obaseki maintained.

He said while Governor Wike is free to use his resources as he deems fit in pursuit of his ambition, he should not attempt to cow, intimidate, cajole and threaten others into doing his bidding.

“Edo State cannot and will not be procured for anyone’s personal ambition,” Obaseki declared.

He appealed to all well-meaning leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party to call Governor Wike to order and urge his Rivers State counterpart to desist from his current unguarded and disruptive tendencies.