PDP fires back at Wike: ‘Lagos is not Rivers’

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hit back at Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his recent criticism of former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Dr Christopher Odianarewo, the PDP described Wike’s remarks as evidence of his continued preoccupation with George, accusing the minister of allowing an old political disagreement to overshadow his responsibilities.

The party said George’s ambition to become national chairman was legitimate and pursued within the provisions of the PDP constitution, adding that he voluntarily stepped aside when it became necessary to protect party unity and stability. It questioned Wike’s claim that he personally “blocked” George, asking who gave him the authority to determine which member’s political aspiration should succeed.

Odianarewo also challenged Wike’s account of visiting George’s Abuja residence after the convention to appease him. He questioned why Wike would personally seek to reconcile with a politician he now dismisses as irrelevant and lacking electoral value. The PDP said the episode contradicted Wike’s current portrayal of George as politically insignificant.

The Lagos PDP further rejected Wike’s attempt to blame George for the party’s electoral setbacks in Lagos, arguing that the PDP won elections and maintained elected representatives in the state after 1999. It also dismissed the use of George’s polling-unit results as a measure of his decades-long political relevance, saying political leadership and influence cannot be reduced to votes from a single polling unit.

The party urged Wike to concentrate on his responsibilities as FCT minister and stop interfering in Lagos politics. It said Lagos had its own political history, structures and destiny, and would not be intimidated by his attacks or attempts to rewrite its political history. “You cannot impose your Rivers political mentality on Lagos,” the party declared, adding: “Lagos no be Rivers.”