Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT on Saturday warned governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP against interference in the affairs of the party in Rivers State.
Wike spoke after voting at the State Congress of Rivers PDP in Port Harcourt.
He spoke against the background of his battle with his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, as governor of Rivers for the control of the structure of the party in the state.
The Minister boasted that with the successful congress that was boycotted by the Fubara’s camp, his loyalists have taken control of the PDP structure in Rivers. He also vowed that he will not leave the party for anybody.
“We are party members, we have taken over our party members. We will not leave for anybody or allow anybody to take the party from us,” the FCT Minister boasted.
However, Wike warned members of Bala Mohammed led PdP Governors’ Forum who recently declared their support for Fubara in the battle for the control of Rivers PDP at their meeting in Taraba State. The Minister vowed to disrupt the PDP chapters of the governors.
“Some governors say they will take the structure from us and give it to somebody. I hear that they have given them assurance that they will take the party from us. I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace.
“Whether you are in Bauchi or wherever, your hands will get burnt. You will never see pace again,” Wike said while expressing his happiness that the congress was witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He also described his successor as ‘unstable character’ noting that there have been speculations that he is going to join the APP. ‘Let them wait for us during the election,’ the FCT Minister said.
The controversial PDP Congress was held at the party’s Secretariat along Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, Port Harcourt under tight security and despite different court orders for and against holding it.
A Rivers High Court presided over by Justice Charles Wali had last month prohibited PDP, its National Chairman Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, or their agents, from gathering anywhere in Rivers State to hold ward, local government, and state congresses until it hears and determines the suit before it.
The suit was filed by representatives of PDP members from each of the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Before Justice Wali’s order, Justice Sobere Biambo also of the state high court, had issued an order in a suit filed by David Omereji and 10 others stopping the PDP, its national chairperson, national financial secretary, and national organizing secretary from conducting the congress.
However, a Federal High Court in Abuja was said to have countered the first order and allowed the party to proceed with its congresses. Justice Peter Lifu stopped the DSS, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and seven others from stopping, or disrupting the congresses.
