The National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was working for Nigerians and not for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to The Nation, it was reported that during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Saturday, Orbih explained that Wike had sought permission through the appropriate organs of the PDP before accepting his role in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He emphasized that since the party had granted Wike permission to serve in the APC-led government, there should be no issue with his involvement.
He further stated that there was no official record indicating that the current acting national chairman, members of the national working committee, or any other organ of the party had written to Wike in response to his request, instructing him not to participate in the administration.
Orbih explained that Wike had initially written to the South-South Zonal Executive of the PDP, after which a meeting was held in Port Harcourt. During this meeting, all members present unanimously agreed that his appointment was a call to national service, and they gave him their approval.
He further stated that Wike had also written to the state chapter of the PDP, and the response he received was positive, encouraging him to take the appointment as part of his duty to serve the nation. Additionally, Wike had written to his ward and Local Government chapters of the party, and no organ of the PDP had objected to his decision or instructed him not to accept the position.
Orbih also mentioned that Wike had written to the PDP Governors Forum regarding the appointment. Following the first meeting of the forum, a delegation was sent to Abuja to personally congratulate him on his new role.
He pointed out that political parties needed to be cautious about how they treated their members. He reiterated that Wike’s participation in the government was not a problem, except for those who were being deliberately mischievous.
According to Orbih, when Wike was invited to serve in the APC-led administration, he formally informed every key organ of the PDP, notifying them that the President had invited him to be part of the government.
He said, “I’m also aware, that not too long ago, the members of the Board of Trustees met him in his official residence, and throughout that meeting, none of them raised this issue.”
Further talking, he said, “So, Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, isn’t working for the All Progressives Congress; he’s working for the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.