Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has claimed that the large-scale defection of PDP state governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress, is proof that his support for President Tinubu is justified, as those who previously opposed him are now APC members.
The declaration was made by the Minister on Wednesday during the commencement of work on the main carriageways of the outer southern motorway in Abuja.
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Wike claimed that some of the governors had previously chastised him for working for the APC and undermining the PDP. He added that the governors ought to applaud him for “doing a good job” of making it possible for them to join the ruling party.
“I have been watching on daily television and social media, people who said I want to destabilise the party, I am working for the APC. All of them are now in the APC. So, which means if it is true, they should commend me for working for where they are heading. So, I should be commended for doing a good job for them,” he said.
Recall that Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah on Tuesday resigned from the PDP and joined the ruling APC, citing his move as being in the best interests of the country’s growth under President Tinubu’s direction.
Following this was another rude shock to the PDP as Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State, resigned from the party on Wednesday along with 19 members of the state house of assembly, becoming the fourth PDP governor to exit the PDP before the 2027 general elections.
Also among those who defected from the PDP is Ben Murray Bruce, who applauded Tinubu’s economic reforms.
Wike pointed out that because President Tinubu’s “decisive leadership” had made sure that every state had enough money to pay wages and start legitimate projects and activities, the governors had no more excuses.
“Let every state be sincere to their people, and to Nigerians. I was a governor for eight years. I was a governor running around banks to look for money to do projects. Sometimes, every month, the money that comes will not be enough to pay salaries and all other allowances, not to talk about doing projects.
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“Today, by the leadership of somebody, by the decisive leadership of somebody who has made it possible for all the states, and the Federal Capital Territory, not to be running around banks again. Rather, banks are now looking for states to say ‘look, don’t throw us away, we are here’.
“Somebody has made that possible; every state now has money. Not only to pay salaries, not only to carry out government activities, but also to embark on projects. It was not like that before,” Wike said.
Wike added that the choice to defect and back the Tinubu-led government was “worthwhile” and that, unlike in the past, no governor will leave debts for their successors.
“So, if, for that reason, so many people are going to support Mr President, I think it is worthwhile. Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts for his successor, unlike what used to happen before. That is the leadership of somebody.
“And that’s what this country needs for now. Visionary leadership, purposeful leadership, that will be able to take decisions. Decisions that people were running away from taking when they had the opportunity,” Wike added.
