Why Wike must stop the war of attrition against the PDP

BY EMMANUEL ADO

“You must understand that a man’s future depends on his past, and we must never forget that” — George Orwell, 1984

This write-up is, at its core is a public service to Nigeria, motivated in part by some measure of respect for Nyesom Wike. Most times, Nigerian politicians are surrounded by sycophants and yes-men who thrive on crisis real or contrived to remain relevant. Some of Wike’s associates; Samuel Ortom, Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Okezie Victor Ikpeazu lost their senatorial elections even as sitting governors. The jury is still out on their performance. What candid advice can such men offer their benefactor, Wike? They can never tell Wike to “calm down,” to borrow Nigerian street parlance.

Wike has every right to feel aggrieved, especially with the political gang-up against him by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar the nomad who has, over the years, moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), back to the PDP, then to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and once again back to the PDP, only to recently resign in yet another desperate bid for his elusive presidential ambition. Wike also has every reason to feel betrayed by Aminu Tambuwal, whom he strongly backed in the 2018 PDP presidential primaries, only for Tambuwal to stab him in the back by supporting Atiku in the 2023 race. These betrayals are no doubt deep, and his frustration is understandable.

In all that has happened, the members of the PDP should bury their heads in shame, especially the party leadership. They handed over the party to Nyesom Wike without resistance, simply because he was willing to bankroll it. Whether the money came from the coffers of the oil-rich Rivers State or his personal fortune doesn’t really matter, because they cannot claim not to have made money from the system themselves. They allowed Wike to dominate the party because they were unwilling to fund the party. They are now reaping the bitter fruits of their political shortsightedness and tightfistedness. The collapse of the party is the price for their lack of principles, silence, and complicity. Unfortunately they cannot turn back the hands of the clock.

It’s no secret that Wike was betrayed by the PDP’s handling of the 2023 presidential ticket, especially the refusal of then National Chairman Ignatius Ayu to respect the zoning principles of the party. However, rather than pursue internal reconciliation, Wike launched a scorched-earth campaign that has left the party which once boasted it would govern for 60 years fractured and barely recognizable.

But Wike’s actions have raises a serious concern about him, going forward, can Wike be trusted either by his old comrades or his new political allies? The answer is a resounding no. At best they will tolerate him until they can push him aside, knowing he has nowhere else to go.

Wike must also realize, despite his justified anger, that his continued burning of critical political bridges and trust will come back to haunt him. He must reflect on the long-term impact of his current actions of seeking retribution —because it’s equally hurting him and is destroying any realistic path to the presidency or even the vice presidency in 2031. Wike’s political brand, once rooted in capacity and boldness, is now increasingly associated with internal sabotage of his party. His poor public perception among Nigerians cannot be ignored. Increasingly, many Nigerians see him as a destabilizing force in Nigeria’s politics. It is a tragedy for a man once seen as a loyal party man.

I must confess that Wike has done a fantastic job of destroying the PDP. Today, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party he once fiercely defended, is in tatters. It is worth asking, was it the PDP that wronged Wike, or some individual actors within the party? If it is the latter, why is Wike bringing down the entire structure a collateral damage that will affect some of his supporters? Has Wike spared a thought for the party members who supported him in the 2023 primaries, whose political futures are now caught in the crossfire? If so, why is he settling personal scores by destroying the party?

Wike has every right to believe that he has the upper hand now, especially with his appointment by the ruling APC as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). But he ought to know that his new allies are closely watching him. They will be careful with a man who turned on his own party so brutally, aware of the possibility of him doing the same to the APC if he doesn’t get his way. This is why he must tread softly, because trust is a currency that is hard to rebuild once squandered.

Wike should equally take heed of public sentiment. His public spat with Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, is a clear indication that he is fast losing popularity despite his performance as a minister. It has laid bare how deeply unpopular he has become in the eyes of many Nigerians, especially because of the brashness of his weekly “Wike Show,” which many believe Sowore put a stop to.

As Chinua Achebe aptly put it, “When the community cooks for you, you can’t eat it all; but when you cook for the community, they can finish whatever you place before them and ask for more.” Wike may be enjoying his moment now, but it is fleeting. Power is only as enduring as the goodwill that sustains it.

The upcoming national convention of the party appears already doomed due to procedural risks that should concern all stakeholders. With Wike’s loyalists embedded in key party structures, there’s a looming risk of factional chaos. If the party’s National Secretary, who is aligned with Wike, decides to withhold his signature on nomination documents, several candidates of the party could be disqualified on technical grounds. And given the judiciary’s penchant for technicalities over substantive justice, this is not a far-fetched scenario or a doomsday prediction.

Many elected officials on the PDP ticket fear disqualification because of the internal crises. The Osun State Governor, for example, desire to move to the APC, is borne out of the fact that the electoral law requires candidates to be sponsored by parties through legally recognized officials. However, he faces resistance from the Minister of Blue Economy and former governor of the state.

Will the dancing governor be accepted eventually? Only time will tell.

There is also another political lesson that Wike must not ignore. The case of the so-called “New PDP” members, like Bukola Saraki, should serve as a stark warning. Saraki and others helped deliver victory to the APC in the 2015 elections, but where is Saraki today? He is sidelined, politically diminished, and largely irrelevant on the national stage. He would want to turn back the hand of the clock, but unfortunately the horse has already left the barn. The party he helped build has turned against some of them. Wike must understand that history has a way of repeating itself, especially for those who forget its lessons.

It is to Wike’s eternal credit that he has made notable strides in providing infrastructure in the FCT. His focus on road rehabilitation and tackling long-standing urban challenges has won him praise, even from critics. However, his combative political style continues to overshadow these achievements. It is a shame that the attention he commands is more for his controversial politics than his competence. This should worry him.

Going forward, Wike has two options: he should either formalize his departure from the PDP, as many of his followers have already done, or engage in genuine reconciliation. His followers who have moved to other parties signal that he is done with the PDP and that he is only PDP in name. His continued membership in the PDP can only prolong the party’s paralysis.

If Wike truly believes in multiparty democracy, which Nigeria so desperately needs, then he must act in a way that strengthens, not weakens, the opposition. If the PDP further implodes, the damage will be earth-shaking. When that happens, those affected are likely to turn on Wike with vehemence.

Wike must also begin to demonstrate the maturity and responsibility that national leadership demands.

As President Ibrahim Babangida once envisioned, Nigeria no doubt needs two strong and competitive parties. A one-party state is a recipe for disaster and crisis. Those celebrating the PDP’s crisis today may find themselves without a viable platform tomorrow. A one-party state, dominated by the APC or any other group, is dangerous for democracy.

Those rooting for a one-party system would definitely regret it if not in 2027, then in the 2031 elections especially when they would have fallen out of favor and have nowhere else to turn. Even the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio a man notorious for his political gaffes who owes his rise in part to the PDP should remember that political fortunes shift quickly. Mocking the very party that once empowered you is not smart.

In the final analysis, Wike must decide how he wants to be remembered. There is still time to change course. Nigeria, which has given him so much, deserves more from him. So do the PDP and the millions of Nigerians who still believe in a functioning opposition.