A fresh rift has opened within the Peoples Democratic Party as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, firmly dismissed claims that he pledged to “hold” the party for President Bola Tinubu, describing the allegation as false and politically motivated.
Wike addressed the controversy during his end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt on Monday, responding to remarks by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who had alleged that Wike made the promise during a visit to the State House in 2024.
Makinde had told journalists that Wike assured President Tinubu he would keep the PDP under control for him, a claim that has since generated tension within the opposition party.
Wike, however, said the meeting had no connection with the PDP, explaining that it was solely to demonstrate support for Tinubu’s leadership and reaffirm his longstanding political position.
“Sheyi said I told Tinubu that I would hold PDP for him. Nothing like that happened. Everyone knows my position on Tinubu. I don’t need a meeting to tell him that,” Wike said.
He stressed that his support for the president had never been a secret and did not require any private assurance, adding that his political stance was well known long before Tinubu assumed office.
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The FCT minister also said that, as a serving minister, he had a responsibility to ensure that members of the G-5 group benefited from the current administration in one way or another.
Wike further alleged that Makinde’s comments were driven by frustration over Tinubu’s refusal to approve his nominee for a ministerial position.
He also claimed that he had not received the level of support Makinde allegedly enjoyed from the Tinubu administration, citing reports of a N50 billion grant for victims of the Bodija explosion in Ibadan.
However, Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Suleimon Olanrewaju, clarified that only N30 billion was released, noting that part of the funds was paid directly to victims as immediate relief, while the remaining amount was used for rebuilding and restoration efforts.
Despite the clarification, Wike insisted that the Oyo governor owed the people of the state a duty to fully account for the expenditure, adding that such funds should have been properly appropriated before disbursement.
The exchange has added to ongoing tensions within the PDP, as internal disagreements continue to play out publicly among its prominent figures.
NAN
