The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Wednesday dared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend him as a member of the party.
He also added that no one in the PDP can discipline him, rather, he should be the one to discipline those who violated the party’s constitution on rotation.
Wike spoke against the background of the crisis which rocked the PDP ahead of the 2023 presidential election in which he and some others popularly known as the G5 Governors worked against the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The former Rivers State Governor also subsequently took up a ministerial appointment in the government of President Bola Tinubu.
The development sparked fresh reactions that the PDP leadership may suspend Wike for anti-party activities.
However, speaking on Wednesday during an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike declared that the PDP can’t suspend him from the party.
He also mocked the PDP leadership, saying the person that wants to suspend him couldn’t produce a Governor or three Senators or Assembly members in his state while he gave the PDP the Governorship seat, State Assembly members as well as National Assembly members in Rivers State.
He said: “How can anybody talk about expelling me? A state that provided the Governor? A State that brought three Senators? A State that produced 32 Assembly members? A State that produced 11 out of 13 House of Reps.
“The person that wants to suspend me is the one that couldn’t produce a Governor or three Senators or Assembly. I’ve not seen that person that will suspend me in PDP. Nobody will do it.
“Who will discipline me? I should be the one calling for discipline for those who violated the party’s constitution on rotation. I want to dare anyone who will say I should be suspended. I’m a man of character.
As earlier reported by OsunDailyNG, Wike said he obtained permission from the PDP before accepting Tinubu’s ministerial appointment, adding that he worked in the interest of justice, equity, and fairness.
“I wrote to my party about my nomination, and they replied that I should accept it. Forget about their rantings, they are all regretting their actions, and that’s what led the party to what it is today. I worked in favour of justice, equity and fairness,” he said.
Some APC Members Not Happy With My Appointment
Speaking further, Wike said some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are not happy that he was given a ministerial appointment by President Tinubu. The former Rivers State Governor however declared that despite the development, he remains a member of the PDP.
“God supports the action we’ve taken to support President Tinubu. Some APC members are not happy that I’m FCT minister. At my level, do I need to play game? Why will you put my name? I’m still a member of PDP. I’m not a kid, if I want to play a role, I will. I’m not a member of APC,” Wike submitted.
