Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to stand his ground and fight for his principles, amidst an internal crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party.
The former Rivers State governor made the bold statement during a media parley held on Wednesday to mark his first anniversary as the FCT minister.
Wike’s statement comes less than 24 hours after a former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, called on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, to expel Wike from the party to save it from destruction.
In an open letter to Damagun, Clark said, “I am writing to bring to your attention the activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, who is using his closeness to President Bola Tinubu to intimidate the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the party.”
Clark, who is also the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, said: “I cannot stand by and allow the minister to continue to hound the governor. If we do not stop him, the matter will consume him, Wike, and their cohorts.”
However, amidst speculation that Wike may leave the PDP due to the party’s internal crisis, the minister insisted that he would stay to fight. However, the minister has consistently maintained that he will not abandon his principles, even if it means standing alone.
Responding to questions on Wednesday, Wike said, “I don’t run away from any fight. I will stay there, I will fight it out. Who am I going to run from? The vampires? I cannot do that!”
When asked by a journalist if he sees himself leaving the PDP in the future, Wike responded, “Anybody who knows me knows too well if I want to join APC today… when I was then PDP and I said ‘look, I will not support your presidential candidate’, Did I say it secretly? Or those people that are saying those things did they bring one member that won the election?”
The minister also highlighted his commitment to principle, stating, “Did PDP not win (in Rivers State)? I stood my ground in terms of the principle that if this is not done we will not accept it. People must know you for something. Integrity is very important. Forget about those that are saying this, they are afraid of my face.”