NUF, Bauchi gov’s supporters call for Wike’s sanction over threat to PDP govs

The North East Unity Forum (NUF) and the Supporters of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Vanguard have, in separate statements, berated the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for his anti-party activities and threat against governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for supporting his successor, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Recall that the PDP Governors’ Forum had on August 24 expressed support for Fubara and called on the party’s leadership to grant him his “rightful” position as the party’s leader in the state. Reacting to the call last Saturday at the PDP congress in Port Harcourt, Wike threatened to cause a political crisis in the state if any governor threatened his political structure in Rivers.

Convener, the North East Unity Forum (NUF), Abubakar Kabir, said Wike’s  threat to unleash crises in those states supporting Fubara clearly demonstrates he is not a democrat and should be relieved of his job as a Minister of FCT.

Kabir wants the party leadership to act decisively to sanction Wike and restore discipline and order within their party.  Part of the statement read: “The NUF contends that Wike has lost touch with reality and has become a political outcast in Rivers politics after Governor Fubara purged him away from, and denied him access to, the state’s resources.

“His ingratitude to those who mentored and supported him is a clear indication of his treacherous nature. Wike’s political history is marred by betrayal and disloyalty.

“He has shamelessly turned his back on his benefactors and political godfathers—Rotimi Amaechi, who elevated him from obscurity into main politics of Rivers state; Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed him as a minister and brought him to national prominence; and Patience Jonathan, who stood by him unwaveringly.

“Wike’s actions are a blatant betrayal of those who helped him rise to power, showcasing his true nature as a treacherous and ungrateful politician.

“Furthermore, Wike’s repeated antiparty activities, including his open support for candidates outside the PDP, have completely exposed his hypocrisy, violation of party loyalty, indiscipline, and his narcissistic desperation for personal ambition over the collective good of the people and his party.

“The NUF argues that his threats to “put fire in the states” of governors supporting Fubara are not only reckless but also a direct assault on the peace and stability of our nation.

“His declaration that governors interfering in Rivers State “will never sleep in your state” is a dangerous provocation that threatens the very fabric of our democracy and national stability. Such inflammatory rhetoric is unbecoming of a public official and cannot be tolerated.

Meanwhile, in its statement, Supporters of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Vanguard, also  called for Wike’s sanction, over his threat to destabilise the states controlled by PDP.

In a statement by its Director-General, Mohammed Jibo, yesterday, the group also called on the party leadership to sanction Wike for his open anti-party activities. It also expressed its support for the party summoning of the FCT minister, adding that PDP should do more than invite Wike to appear before its disciplinary committee but either suspend or expel him outrightly.

The statement read in part: “It becomes imperative in view of Wike’s several anti-party activities, including his openly working against PDP in the 2023 presidential election, which the group stated contributed to the loss of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, in the election.

“While stating that Wike’s tirade against PDP governors was reckless and indecorous, the group asserted that there was nothing wrong with the PDP Governors’ Forum resolution at the governor’s meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State, to stand with their Rivers State counterpart, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and their decision to consult with PDP National Working Committee to allow the governor to take over the leadership of the party in his state to warrant Wike’s threat to cause crises in PDP in their states.

“There is no doubt that Wike’s threat is nothing but reckless and indecorous, coming from someone who has benefited immensely from PDP, the party he openly worked against its interests in the 2023 presidential election when he supported the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC. In our view, there is nothing more anti-party activity than this.

“It is in view of this and other known anti-party activities of the former Rivers governor that we not only back his invitation to face PDP Disciplinary Committee but also call on the National Working Committee of the party to urgently sanction Wike by either suspending him or giving him an outright expulsion from PDP before he causes further havoc on the party ahead of the 2027 general election.”

The group added that Wike’s threat poses a danger to PDP’s unity and the nation’s peace and stability, stating that the party is bigger than him or any other member.

It also warned the minister not to do anything to cause any turmoil in Bauchi State, which it submitted as the most peaceful state in the entire North-East zone.

“PDP as a political party is bigger than any individual, no matter how highly placed such person may be. We strongly believe that the party’s founding fathers had never intended for it to become a tool of manipulation by any member of the PDP. We boldly say that Wike’s excess is too much and cannot be continuously tolerated any further.

“While commending the Governor Bala Mohammed-led PDP Governors’ Forum for its stance on ensuring that PDP structure be returned to the Rivers State governor, BAM-V stated that those who assiduously worked to make Wike governor between 2015 and 2023 never hijacked the party structure from him but rather allowed him to assume the leadership of the party in the state.

“Governor Bala Mohammed led the PDP administration in Bauchi State and in the last five years, has worked hard to maintain peace, security, and development in the state. The likes of Wike are not wanted in Bauchi State. The state deserves its peace for its development to continue unabated.”