Categories: Politics

PDP vice chair: Why we allowed Wike to serve in Tinubu’s govt

The National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dan Orbih, has disclosed that the party leadership permitted the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to serve in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Wike, a PDP chieftain and immediate past governor of Rivers State, was appointed as a minister by Tinubu after the 2023 general election.

Speaking in Abuja on Saturday, March 22, 2025, Orbih said Wike is working for Nigerians and not for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Orbih said having sought permission through the relevant organs of the PDP, the party permitted Wike to serve in Tinubu’s administration.

He stated that in view of this, there should not be no issue with Wike working with the APC-led federal government.

The PDP chieftain: “And I can tell you there is no record that the current acting national chairman and the members of the national working committee, or any of the organ wrote him in reply to his letter that he should not participate in this government.

“He wrote to the South-South Zonal executive. We had a meeting in Port Harcourt and unanimously we said it was a call to national service, and we gave him our nod.

“He wrote to the state chapter of his party and the response was positive; that he should take the appointment as a national call for service.

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“He wrote to his ward and local government chapters of the party. There is no organ of the party that came out to say no, don’t accept this appointment.

“He wrote to the Governors Forum and I can tell you that at the end of the first meeting held by the Forum, a delegation of that body went to congratulate him in Abuja.”

Orbih noted that political parties must be careful how they treat their members, saying: “Now I have told you that his participation in this government is not an issue, except for those who are mischievous.

“When he was given an invitation to serve in this government, he wrote to every critical organ of the party, informing them that Mr President has invited him to be part of his government.

“I am also aware, that not too long ago, the members of the Board of Trustees met him in his official residence, and throughout that meeting, none of them raised this issue.

“So, Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is not working for APC; he is working for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The PDP National Vice Chairman added that his relationship with Wike and his friends in other political parties could not be defined by his politics.

He stated: “Let me make it abundantly clear here that my membership of PDP cannot determine those who are my friends and those who should be my enemies.

“If at my age, I now belong to a political party and the party tells me, this man cannot be your friend, then it is wrong.

“I have friends across board. I have friends in Labour Party, APC, and in many other parties, but that doesn’t affect my membership and commitment to the PDP.

“I want to say it very clearly, PDP cannot determine my friendship with Nyesom Wike, a very dependable and hard-working friend of mine.”

The Star