- Ijaw National Leader: Don’t Tip Atiku as PDP’s Candidate in 2027
By Abiola Olawale
Following the unfolding events in the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has warned the party against allowing the ambition of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike to override the greater interest of the party, stressing that the later has become an enemy of the party itself.
This is as the Leader of Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF) raised alarm on impending doom, saying the egos of the politically ambitious Wike and others could lead to a potential collapse of one of the longest-standing political parties in Nigeria.
Clark also called the party to investigate the alleged anti-party activities of Wike, saying the party needs to wield its full strength on the minister over his recent role in the party.
According to the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the party has to set up a strong Disciplinary Committee that will be saddled with the responsibility of probing the anti-party activities of the former Governor of Rivers State and others whose roles led to the failure of the PDP in the 2023 elections.
The elder statesman described Wike as the greatest enemy of the PDP, manipulating it, with the intent of destroying it.
In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, Clark also called for the immediate dissolution of the present National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP for what he described as their anti-party activities.
Clark in the statement also warned the party that if the former Vice President and the 2023 Presidential candidate is made the candidate for the 2027 elections, PDP will collapse.
The New Diplomat reports that since the conclusion of the PDP’s presidential primary election Atiku and Wike have been at loggerheads. The party had been torn with several issues with the latest being the call for the removal of the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun.
The members of the party have been divided between those advocating for Damagun’s support and those opposing his continued tenure.
The development has since been causing rancor within the fold of the PDP, as the members calling for the removal of Damagun are reportedly supporting Atiku, and those calling for the continued stay of the acting National Chairman are believed to be in support of Wike.
However, Clark has reacted to the development in a statement titled,” As the National Working Committee, (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) meets: A Poser- PDP: To be or not to be?”
The statement reads:” I know that many people who read this article will say to themselves that they thought Chief Edwin Clark said he has retired from active and partisan politics. Yes, I said I have resigned from partisan and active politics. But it was one of the famous philosophers, Aristotle, who said “Man is by nature a political animal.” He went on to narrate that because no human can flourish on their own, there is a natural tendency for men to partner with their fellow men.
“One of these partnerships is that relating to the polis, which is the Greek word for community; from which is derived political partnership. Therefore, for as long as Almighty God keeps me alive, both physically and mentally, I will continue to speak on governance and political matters, especially when it tends to adversely affect our nation.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was set up by leaders of like mind who assembled in the nation’s capital, Abuja, on 28th July 1998, to work together “for the speedy restoration of democracy, achievement of national reconciliation”, amongst others. Some of us joined immediately the idea of such an egalitarian political party was enunciated, because we felt that was what our dear country needed and still needs.
“But what has happened today? Some overzealous members of the party have hijacked it for their selfish gains. Some of us have been shouting and warning against this. I recall that to avoid “money bags” taking over the party, instead of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, as provided by its Constitution, a one-time National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Governor of Enugu State, during his tenure, proposed by the party’s provisions, payment of membership dues by all members with which the party will be run. He denounced the issue of deep pockets taking over the party when in his acceptance speech in 2010.
“Needless to say, we need money to prosecute our elections but I can assure you that Ghana-Must-Go bags will not be needed at the National Secretariat of PDP to win primary elections. There will be no room for cash-and-carry democracy in the PDP because it is the bane of true democracy.
” My sincere advice to the members of the party’s NWC which is composed of notable politicians is that they should be courageous enough to: Set up a Disciplinary Committee to investigate the anti-party activities, particularly the roles played by some members which led to the failure of the PDP in the 2023 elections;
“To dissolve the existing NEC of the party for their anti-party activities;
“To appoint an Acting National Chairman by the Constitution of the party. This was what happened during the tenure of Uche Secondus, who was still in court when the party appointed another Acting National Chairman;
“The party should immediately revisit the online registration of its members as it was initiated by the then National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to save the party from depending on individuals, because as they say, he who pays the piper, dictates the tune.”
Earlier, the Elderstatesman said, “Rumours have it that Atiku is already preparing for the 2027 presidential election. If this is allowed, the PDP will collapse as the second principal party in the country today. While no one is contesting his right of contesting or indicating interest in the presidency of the country as many times as he wishes, which as the last count is up to five times, he should also know that fair play is the bedrock of the game.
“Another person that also seems to be holding or going for the jugular of the PDP, is Barr. Nyesom Wike. Honestly, I lack words to describe his actions. The nearest description I can give for his actions is politically androgynous, he is neither in PDP nor APC. He seems simply acquisitive, and the greatest enemy of PDP, manipulating it, with the intent of destroying it.
“Most of us supported Barr. Wike in his agitation against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. But he has gone too far in causing tragedy in PDP. His anti-party activities must be dealt with decisively, by setting up a strong disciplinary committee made up of strong people with the resilience to resist pecuniary gains, who are courageous enough to investigate his activities and that of any other person/persons suspected of engaging in anti-party activities. The seeming contest for the soul of the PDP between himself and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not only ridiculous but a negation of the ideals for founding the party.
“Even though Nyesom Wike had a good case considering what transpired during the last presidential primary election of the PDP, he has crossed the red line. Today, he is dancing naked in the market. He regards himself as the leader of both the PDP and APC in Rivers State, and that is why I described him as someone who can be referred to as a political androgynous; an acquisitive person. Wike used his influence on APC National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, to set up a caretaker committee of the party in Rivers State under the leadership of Mr. Tony Okocha, a position he, Mr. Okocha, sees as an opportunity to deride and harass and attempt to humiliate an elected Executive Governor of the State, Siminalayi Fubara.
“The story is the same in PDP in the State; where Barr. Wike recently removed the State Chairman and recommended him for a federal appointment. Now, with his control of the PDP and APC in Rivers State, he has appointed some APC members as caretaker committee members of the party in Rivers State.
“Is Nyesom Wike only waiting for the appropriate time to destroy the PDP and become a full-fledged member of the APC? It is alleged that it is the same, Barr. Wike sponsored the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to defect from the PDP to the APC, using the National Secretary of the Party, who was in court as the reason that PDP has split.
“Even though these members by constitutional provisions have lost their seats in the House as a result of their defection to another party when there was no crisis in the party on which platform they were elected, Wike is retaining them with the support of Mr. President, to the extent of threatening to impeach the Executive Governor, Siminalaye Fubara.
“I will, at this juncture, like to repeat the question I asked in the book I am writing on PDP, ‘Whether PDP: to be or not to be?’ The inordinate ambition of Their Excellencies Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Barr, Nyesom Wike, to be president of the country, will kill the party. These two seem to prefer to use their funds to establish their leadership, not because of their love for the party. PDP wake up! This is a clarion call.
“It is true that for some time the party had no funds, particularly the time between Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff. Nyesom Wike was the only Governor who financially supported the party. Again, in his usual manner, he insulted and humiliated the party. He dared them not to hold the party convention in Port Harcourt. The party kowtowed to him. Even after that, he continued to harass and intimidate the party. For instance, he sponsored Uche Secondus to be the national chairman of the party against the wishes of most other members. The same Barr. Wike later on instigated and sponsored the removal of Uche Secondus, two months before the party’s National Convention.
“Barr. Wike’s engagement in brash politics seems to be affecting members of the party including the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum and the National Secretary, who take instructions from Barr. Wike. Hence, the sixty members on the platform of the party in the House of Representatives, are calling for the resignation and or removal of the Acting National Chairman.”
