Redaction Africa Links 24 with Legit.ng
Published on 2024-02-19 05:52:02
The ongoing crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has become one of the most intricate situations in Nigeria’s political history. A central figure in this crisis is Nyesom Wike, who has been embroiled in a conflict with the party. Segun Showunmi, a PDP chieftain, recently discussed the intricacies of Wike’s situation in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng.
Wike, who is currently the FCT Minister, is an influential figure in the PDP. However, in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections, he formed his caucus known as the G-5 governors. The G-5 governors include Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia state), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu state). These governors were in full support of Wike’s factionalisation of the party.
This factionalisation came as a result of Wike losing the presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar and the vice presidential ticket to Ifeanyi Okowa. He accused the party of lacking fairness and justice in its leadership selection, pointing out that both the presidential candidate and the party’s chairman were from the northern region of Nigeria.
In response to these grievances, Wike and his G-5 crew urged Dr Iyorchai Ayu, the party’s chairman at the time, to step down for the sake of equity and fairness. However, when these demands were not met, the G-5 governors withdrew their support for Atiku in the presidential elections, which ultimately led to Atiku’s loss.
Following these events, Wike has joined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) cabinet as the FCT Minister. In response to Wike’s situation, Segun Showunmi expressed his belief that Wike is currently on sabbatical in the APC. He emphasized that this is a unique situation and that Wike’s actions do not make him the party’s problem.
Showunmi highlighted the importance of designing a new model to address crises like Wike’s within the party. He stated that the party should move towards grounding itself in principles and ideologies rather than individual interests. Showunmi stressed that efforts to expel Wike from the party are unnecessary and would have little to no impact, and that the PDP should allow Wike to go on his sabbatical in the APC.
Amidst these developments, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held an emergency meeting with state governors at the presidential villa in Abuja, bringing together governors from the opposition despite their viewpoints on Nigeria’s economic condition.
The PDP crisis, particularly involving Nyesom Wike and his factionalisation of the party, highlights the complexities of politics in Nigeria’s current landscape. As the party moves forward, addressing these complexities and designing new models for crisis resolution will be crucial for ensuring its stability and effectiveness.
Read the original article on Legit.ng
