Wike to Damagum: Anyanwu not your appointee… you can’t direct him to resume

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has criticised Umar Damagum, the acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for directing Samuel Anyanwu to resume as the party’s national secretary.

Speaking at the inauguration of interchange bridges of arterial road in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike said since Anyanwu is not an appointee of Damagum, the acting national chairman cannot direct him to resume duties.

Earlier, while speaking at a press conference, Damagum said Anyanwu would resume as national secretary, noting that the resolution to recognise him was a “difficult” one.

During the press conference, Damagum was flanked by Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi and chairman of the PDP’s Governors’ Forum; Abba Moro, lawmaker representing Benue south and minority leader of the senate; and other party officials.

On Tuesday, members of the PDP national working committee (NWC) and several governors held a meeting with Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other senior officials of the commission over the crisis in the party.

There has been a crisis in the main opposition party over who is the rightful occupant of the national secretary seat between Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye, who have been laying claim to the position.

‘PDP SHOOTING ITSELF’

Wike said Anyanwu has been working as the party’s national secretary, insisting that there is no need to ask him to resume duties.

The FCT minister accused Damagum of “perpetrating illegalities” in the party and not “showing leadership”.

Wike said it is “unfortunate” that the party’s leaders are meeting with INEC on whether to obey the supreme court judgment or not.

“I watched on national television and heard when the acting national chairman of PDP was directing the national secretary to resume,” he said.

“National secretary is not your appointee. He has been doing his work. You can’t call him to resume because of the illegalities you perpetrated.

“You did not show leadership; that is why you are where you are. It is nobody’s making. National secretary has been working and does not need anybody to direct him to work.

“When you shoot yourself, you say somebody shot you. Continue to shoot yourself; I will not be a party to that.”