Atiku’s Camp Moves against Wike, Says It’s Time to Enforce Discipline

•Dismisses FCT minister as serial betrayal 

•Declares ex-Rivers gov not member of PDP

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

For daring to call for the expulsion of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, political associates of the former vice president have moved against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, asking the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to discipline him.

Atiku’s camp further described Wike as a serial betrayal, who formed the group of five governors that committed series of anti-party activities against the PDP during the February 25 presidential election, saying he had since ceased to be a member of their party.

Wike, last week, called for the expulsion of Atiku Abubakar and a former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

However, addressing a press conference, yesterday, in Abuja, the Director of Research and Documentation of the PDP Presidential Campaign, Dr. Pedro Obasike said, “Wike coming out to ask for the expulsion of the number one leader of the party and the presidential flag bearer of the party and the recipient of the mandate of the Nigerian people as declared in INEC’s submission that we won 21 states and asking Atiku to be expelled from the party, has crossed the red line and now, he should be ready. He has all the money to fight us back because we are coming at him like a thousand bricks.

“He has unleashed the dogs of war and we will not sit back and watch him ride rough over the party and majority of Nigerians like he did for eight years over the humility of the Rivers people. That can no longer suffice.”

He also challenged Wike to publish his bank account when he assumed office as a governor and after his eight years tenure.

According to Obasike, “Wike is a member of the APC, a sitting minister of an APC government. Wike openly campaigned against the PDP. You see, by their fruits, we shall know them. By all intents and purposes, Wike is not a member of the PDP.

“If you remember clearly, just a few months to the election, Barrister Nyesom Wike, then the governor of Rivers State ran to the court to get an injunction to preclude and stop the PDP from expelling him from the party. If he was so untouchable and bigger than the entire party machinery, why did he do that? Whether we like it or not, Wike is Satan lieutenant.

“Maybe that is what reduced the propensity of the leaders of the party to do the needful. And because many of them are doves – men of peace (not everyone is a hawk like Wike), let us see whether he would come around. PDP is not a party of brigands.”

He, however, said the coast was now clear for Wike to face disciplinary action and possibly expulsion as you cannot eat your cake and still have it back. 

“Wike by his elemental behaviour, unending vituperations fits more into the category and behavioural attitude and pattern of an APC member. Wike is APC. As for the party not suspending or expelling him now, I have quoted the court injunction but he has violated every other thing going forward.

“To borrow from my brother, Dele Momodu, if some of us were in charge, Wike will not have the moral rectitude to go on air to start talking about a party he so singularly in the past one year decimated and bastardised. Wike is not a member of our party.”

Obasike challenged Wike to produce the letter, he claimed to have written to the PDP before accepting the ministerial position from the APC government.

His words: “Where is the letter he wrote to the National Chairman? I am sure Wike went to Law School. I am sure he is a lawyer and he knows that ‘He who is ready for peace should prepare for war.

“Nyesom Wike has touched the tiger’s tail, let him wait. The only extensional advice I am going to give  is that those who have employed his dastardly betrayal and chicanery in the APC should watch their backs. The rain may beat the leopard but it cannot wash off its spots.”