‘I’ll put fire in your states,’ Wike threatens PDP govs over Fubara

Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has warned governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against interference in the affairs of the party in Rivers State. Speaking after voting at the State Congress of Rivers PDP in Port Harcourt, Wike said he was not prepared to leave the party […]

Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has warned governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against interference in the affairs of the party in Rivers State.

Speaking after voting at the State Congress of Rivers PDP in Port Harcourt, Wike said he was not prepared to leave the party for anyone.

He boasted that with the successful congress that was boycotted by the Fubara camp, his loyalists had taken control of the PDP structure in Rivers.

“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.

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To Governor Bala Mohammed-led PDP Governors’ Forum, he said, “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.”

Daily Trust had reported how governors of the opposition party threw their weight behind Fubara at a caucus meeting which held in Taraba last week.

Continuing, Wike said, “So I’ve told them, now you have started, when I will start, don’t say I’m the one that destroyed PDP, you are the one that is trying to destroy PDP. Allow Rivers State to conduct the affairs of the party, we are aware of these unstable characters, we know that they are joining APP, let them wait during the time, they should face us in the election, don’t bother about our abuses, we have thick skin, we don’t even know what abuse is, so don’t say anybody is abusing me, of I’m nothing, they will not abuse me.”

Wike, however, sent a strong message to Fubara’s camp, declaring that he would not beg for political relevance.

“They thought we’d come begging, but we’re not begging.”

Despite different court orders, the PDP Congress held at the party’s Secretariat along Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, Port Harcourt, under tight security.

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.