The two factions laying claim for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have disagreed over the attack on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, by Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru.
The governor in a speech during the adoption of President Bola Tinubu as presidential candidate in 2027 by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in South East, reportedly made inflammatory statements against Wike and members of the opposition political parties in Ebonyi State.
But the faction loyal to the FCT Minister,
said such language is unbecoming of a public office holder, adding that it has the potential to heighten political tension in the state.
The National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Mohammed, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, accused the governor of looking for scapegoats over his failure to deliver meaningful dividends of democracy to the people of Ebonyi State.
Mohammed advised Governor Nwifuru that instead of engaging in political blackmail, spreading unfounded allegations and threatening to use state resources against the opposition, he should devote his energy “to explaining to the people of Ebonyi State why, after more than three years in office, his administration struggles to point to projects that have meaningfully impacted the lives of the people.”
The party’s spokesperson further accused the governor of manufacturing conspiracy theories in a desperate bid to secure cheap public sympathy ahead of the next election.
He alleged that at the inception of Governor Nwifuru’s administration, “a staggering N24 billion was reportedly spent on the renovation of the Ebonyi Airport.
“More than two years later, the airport remains commercially unviable and has failed to attract any significant economic activity or deliver meaningful benefits to the people of the state.”
The spokesperson advised the governor that rather than making threats and chasing imaginary enemies, he should explain to Ebonyi people the undisclosed beneficiaries of the overseas scholarship programme, the poor state of basic education, the uncompleted two-kilometre road projects across local government areas and the billions budgeted for traditional rulers’ palaces with little or no visible results.
He advised Governor Nwifuru to leave Wike out of his political misfortunes, adding that his challenge is not Chief Wike but the people of Ebonyi State who said, are yearning for competent leadership and genuine development.
Mohammed told the governor to direct his attention to the PDP candidate for Ebonyi State in next year’s governorship election Ambassador (Dr.) Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, who he boasted, “will confront and defeat him at the ballot box.”
According to him, the 2027 election would not be about propaganda, intimidation or blackmail, but be about performance, accountability and the welfare of Ebonyi people.
The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the PDP, in a counter statement, however commended Governor Nwifuru “for calling out and condemning the anti-party activities and political blackmail of the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike.”
The faction in a statement by INWC National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the governor was right in calling out the minister for meddling in political affairs outside his official and geographic jurisdictions.
He alleged that Wike was responsible for Governor Nwifuru’s predecessor, David Umahi leaving PDP to the APC.
The faction stated that PDP as an opposition party, is not in an alliance with the APC.
“We are a principled political party and will continue to insist on best practices in political contests in a bid to help achieve democratic consolidation in our country,” the statement added.
Ememobong said PDP candidate in Ebonyi State is Mr. Eze Alexander, “who, for all intents and purposes, is in the race as an opposition candidate, not a ruling party-aligned candidate.”
