‘Don’t be afraid, I’m with you’ — Wike tells PDP national secretary Anyanwu

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has congratulated Samuel Anyanwu, national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on his 60th birthday.

Speaking at the birthday ceremony and presentation of a book titled, ‘Sam Daddy In My Eyes’, on Saturday in Abuja, Wike praised Anyanwu over his affirmation as the PDP national secretary.

“I am happy with the crowd I am seeing here. It shows you are a man of the people,” Wike told Anyanwu.

“Let me assure you, for people like us, we will stand with you. We will continue to be with you. It doesn’t matter what the people will say.

“Nobody fights a war, wins and begs. You have won, and the people concerned should come and talk to you, not you inviting them.

“You don’t fight a war and win and then people will say come, no. Tell them, ‘You, come to me’.

“You have people like me, so don’t be afraid. I am here. We have done it before, and we will do it again. Some people will not be happy, but I am happy.

“What makes a man is his character and not how much money he has or the food he provides. If you don’t have character, go to hell with your food.”

Wike said he advised Anyanwu to be steadfast and unyielding in the tussle for the national secretary position.

Wike said: “So I warned him, if you know you will not stand firm, say it now. I also asked him, are you sure you can stand this fight?

“A situation where virtually everybody, including governors, are fighting you, will not be easy but if you stand firm you will win.

“However, if you begin to go left and you go right, not only will you lose, you will suffer, and he assured me that he would stand firm and would not change.

“You have shown me, with what had just happened recently, that you are a man that will stand by his words.”

BACKGROUND

The national secretary position in the PDP national working committee (NWC) has been the subject of a prolonged tussle, with Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Setonji Koshoedo laying claim to the role.

On June 25, Umar Damagum, PDP acting chairman, affirmed Anyanwu, Wike’s ally, as the national secretary.

The PDP board of trustees (BoT) and 11 members of the NWC have condemned Damagum’s action, saying it contradicts the decision of the national executive committee (NEC).