Douye Diri’s resignation from PDP embarrassing, says Wike

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has described the resignation of Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “very embarrassing”.

Diri resigned from the PDP on October 15.

He was chairing the PDP zoning committee for the elective national convention, scheduled for November 15 and 16, when he quit the party.

Speaking during a media chat on Friday in Abuja, Wike said Diri’s decision to leave the PDP was disappointing.

“It is very embarrassing. The governor was the chairman of the convention committee. Diri was the chairman of the zoning committee. Even though I knew from the beginning that they were all playing games,” he said.

The former Rivers governor said the recent wave of defections and resignations from the PDP did not surprise him, adding that he had long warned that the party will continue to lose key members if party leaders “do not do the right thing”.

“Have I not said that so many governors will leave? Is it the first time you’ve heard me say so? Nothing I said has not come to pass. From day one, I said if things are not done properly, PDP will continue to lose — and we will regret it,” he added.

Wike, however, declined to say whether the ongoing political shake-up would favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I don’t know whether the political tsunami is in favour of the APC. All I know is that there will be a political tsunami,” he said.

Responding to suggestions that his remarks stem from bitterness over losing the PDP’s 2022 presidential ticket to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Wike said his criticism of the party is based on principle, not personal grievance.

“Which house (PDP) do they say I want to pull down? The house that has died since?” he retorted.

He also accused some PDP governors of impunity and disregard for due process, saying their attitude contributed to the party’s decline.