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| Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. |
Middle Belt PDP
Progressive Youth Forum, a socio-political pressure group made of PDP youths in
the Middle Belt region of Nigeria, has lambasted Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers
State over his recent statement, accusing the panel set up by the PDP Board
of Trustees (BOT) of Corruption.
The Panel which has
prominent leaders of the Party from the Middle Belt region of Nigeria was set
up to resolve the Minority Leadership crisis in the House of Representatives.
The group in a
strongly worded statement titled, “INSULT ON AYU, MARK, MANTU: WIKE HAS CROSS
THE RED LINE,” signed by the Chairman, Gabriel Mudgat, Secretary, Alh.
Ibrahim Nadama and Women Coordinator, Hon. Liatu Daniel, condemned the
statement in its entirety and said that it was an unwarranted abuse on the
highly regarded leaders of their region and political party.
The youths in the
statement made available to journalists on Friday 13th September,
2019 in Abuja, described Governor Wike as an irresponsible and disruptive
character in party politics who cannot thrive without crisis. “But let it be
known to him that the Middle Belt is not part of his political fiefdom. He has
certainly crossed the red line by insulting the cream of Middle Belt political
leaders and statesmen,” the group stated, warning and demanding, that Governor
Wike “must immediately withdraw the defamatory statement against Senators Ayu,
Mark, Mantu and others with unreserved public apology”.
The Statement Reads in
full:
INSULT ON AYU, MARK,
MANTU: WIKE HAS CROSSED THE READ LINE
As a group with
a clear mandate to protect and promote the principles of democracy, justice,
equity, and the political and socio- economic emancipation of the people of
Middle Belt Region of Nigeria as enunciated by the founding fathers of the
Region led by the Great Joseph Sarwuan Tarka of blessed memory, we express our
utmost displeasure over recent reports wherein the Governor of Rivers State,
His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, abused our foremost leaders.
In the reports,
Governor Wike described Distinguished Senator (Prof) Iyorchia Ayu, a former
President of the Senate; Distinguished Senator David Mark, a former President
of the Senate; and Distinguished Senator Ibrahim Mantu, a former Deputy
President of the Senate as well as other respected National leaders from other
regions, including the Distinguished Senator Adolphus Wabara, another former
Senate President, etc. appointed into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board
of Trustees (BoT) to investigate the Minority leadership crisis in the House of
Representatives as most corrupt.
As if that was not
enough, he not only congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the
APC, on his victory over the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,
at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, even when the party had just indicated
that it would appeal to the Supreme Court, but also thoroughly insulted brother
PDP Governors. Wike boasted and threatened to deal with the PDP, which built
him from the scratch, politically.
Much as we find these
statements very distasteful, disrespectful, embarrassing, arrogant, and
bombastic, they only go further to affirm Governor Wike as a disruptive
character in party politics. To characterise Middle Belt leaders, including
elder statesmen, whose political exposure dwarf his, shows that he needs some
housekeeping in his political manners.
Now, we are further
convinced that Wike is a man, who cannot thrive without crisis; hence where
there is none, he creates one. Wike not only levies war on the people of Rivers
State, but also does so against anybody that holds contrary views, including the
military, parliament, judiciary, fellow governors, PDP, and political
chieftains. It is either Wike’s way or the high way.
Governor Wike’s threat
to deal with the PDP and PDP Governors further confirms that the evils of
impunity of one man dictating the tune and everyone else dancing sheepishly to
it, which dethroned the PDP from power, has inadvertently mutated to Rivers
State Government House.
Wike’s threats are
part of his annoying and erroneous assumption that one state is equal or above
the other 35 States and Abuja. Such impressions are a sufficient notice that
power should not be concentrated in one hand, especially in a power drunk
fellow, for power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Indeed
Wike’s reckless statements, excesses, and brigandage are clear pointers to what
awaits the nation and the PDP if he finds himself in higher corridors of power
and influence, for no nation or party can survive his combined effects of
Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, and Buhari constituted in one man.
By threatening to
fight the PDP to a standstill, Wike is putting everyone on notice of intention
to disrupt the party again and move on. That would be good riddance to bad
rubbish. In truth, his character weaknesses, including impunity and hubris have
been a heavy burden weighing down the PDP. For instance, he singlehandedly
recruited and imposed the former Governor of Borno State with alleged Boko
Haram baggage, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who almost dismantled the PDP. The
same Wike posed as the saviour and gladiator of the PDP in order to impose a
National Chairman and convert it to Wike Democratic Party.
If he has the
self-proclaimed political Midas touch as he claims, how come it did not come to
play in the 2019 general election? Wike was the last governorship candidate to
be declared winner despite having no challenger in the real sense of it. But
his fellow PDP governors he insults today won their elections or reelection at
a go, with some unseating APC incumbents or their anointed ones even without
the economic leverage that Wike enjoys.
Lastly, Wike’s uncanny
and mischievous congratulatory message to Buhari when the PDP is still going to
court is quite remarkable and speaks volumes when viewed alongside his threat
to deal with the PDP in 2018 over efforts to shift the venue of the National
Convention and Presidential Primary from Port Harcourt. If his congratulation
of Buhari is not anti-party, what else is, especially when he has sabotaged the
intention of the party to go to the Supreme Court because his congratulatory
message is a persuasive authority for the Supreme Court to rule against the
PDP?
Wike, the cricket is
roasting in the fire, but claims he is emitting oil. But let it be known to him
that the Middle Belt is not part of his political fiefdom. He has certainly
crossed the red line by insulting the cream of Middle Belt political leaders
and statesmen. He must immediately withdraw the defamatory statement against
Senators Ayu, Mark, Mantu and others with unreserved public apology. Those,
whose palm kernels were cracked by benevolent spirits, should learn to show
humility.
Thank you all.
Long live Middle Belt
PDP Progressive Youth Forum,
Long live PDP
Long live Middle Belt
Region
Long live Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
Signed:
Gabriel Mudgat
Chairman
Alh. Ibrahim Nadama
Secretary
Hon. Liatu Daniel
Women Cordinator
FOR: MIDDLE BELT PDP
PROGRESSIVE YOUTH FORUM
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