A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, on Tuesday called on Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over what he termed “embarrassing” behaviour during Saturday’s election in Abuja.
George also declared that Wike “is no longer a member of our party,” distancing the PDP from the former Rivers State governor.
The PDP elder statesman was reacting to a viral video in which Wike was seen addressing supporters of the All Progressives Congress at a polling unit and openly boasting that after casting their votes, they should “leave the rest” to him.
“Wike’s conduct during Saturday’s election in Abuja was a complete embarrassment to the good people of this country,” George said.
“In a viral video, he was seen addressing supporters of the All Progressives Congress at a polling unit and openly boasting that after voting, they should ‘leave the rest’ for him.”
George alleged that Wike could not have acted in such a manner without perceived backing from the Presidency.
“It is absolutely impossible for Wike to be behaving like a power-drunk fellow this way without the backing of Mr President. What Tinubu needs to realise is that this is his administration till 2027, not Wike’s,” he said.
“That Tinubu continues to allow Wike to behave this way shows the President is not a good student of history.”
He drew parallels with Nigeria’s First Republic, warning against political excesses and the dangers of executive cover for controversial figures.
“Some of the characters used in the First Republic to destroy that era, nobody talks about them again, but everybody remembers the cover given to them by the Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa,” George stated.
“Mr President, when the shit hits the fan, you will carry your cross alone. You may be happy now the way Wike is dealing with your so-called enemies and trying to destroy opposition parties, but the end will not be palatable.”
The PDP chieftain further warned that political recklessness could have far-reaching consequences for the country and the continent.
“If there is any crisis in Nigeria, it will affect the whole of Africa. Those anti-democracy elements who destroyed the First, Second and Third Republics, where are they today? With a character like Wike, I pray Nigeria does not blow up,” he said.
He added, “I can assure the President, INEC and the Judiciary that Nigeria is bigger than them and Nigerians will no longer accept this arrant nonsense from this power-drunk Minister who was not even born when the 1962 crisis started in the Western Region.”
According to him, over 200 million Nigerians would resist any attempt to undermine democratic processes.
“Wike and others are playing with fire because more than 200 million patriotic Nigerians won’t take this nonsense anymore,” George declared.
“I served in the military and under this civil democracy since 1999. So, I know what I am talking about. No one, I repeat, no one, no matter how influential or power drunk, should be allowed to undermine the will of Nigerians.”
He concluded by urging the President to act swiftly.
“What is going on now is deeply disturbing. This is the time for Mr President to call these characters to order,” he said.
