…Turaki-led INWC commends Nwifuru for calling out Wike
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called out Ebony State Governor, Mr Francis Nwifuru, over his recent threat to ‘consume’ opposition political party leaders allegedly attempting to cause problems in his state.
Nwifuru, who was speaking during a rally, said the opposition leaders claimed that Ebonyi had been “given” to them to be won in 2027, a veiled reference to the governor being defeated during the elections.
“Ebonyi is not for sale. We are not afraid. Nobody should push us because we have all it takes to consume whoever is trying us,” Nwifuru threatened.
The background to the threat is traced to insinuations by the PDP and its national leader, Mr Nyesom Wike, that Ebonyi would be won by the opposition in 2027.
However, reacting on Thursday in Abuja, the PDP took exception to the threat, describing it “reckless and inflammatory”, noting that it exposed the governor’s fear of his winning popularity in the state.
More so, the PDP questioned the reference to Wike in the governor’s comments.
“Ordinarily, such statements would not deserve a response. However, it has become necessary to expose the desperation behind the governor’s recent utterances and remind him that we are not unaware of his antecedents and tendencies toward inflammatory conduct whenever he finds himself under political pressure.
“These unfortunate statements clearly expose a Governor who is increasingly troubled by the prospect of his rejection by the people of Ebonyi State in 2027,” the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, responded on Thursday.
“Having failed to deliver meaningful dividends of democracy to the people of Ebonyi State, Governor Nwifuru has now resorted to searching for scapegoats and manufacturing conspiracy theories in a desperate bid to secure cheap public sympathy ahead of the next election,” the party stated.
But, in a dramatic twist, the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the PDP led by Dr Tanimu Turaki, commended the governor for calling out Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It hailed Nwifuru for “condemning the anti-party activities and political blackmail of the FCT minister”.
The camp’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, noted, “The governor, who recently publicly cautioned the Minister to refrain from stoking political crisis in Ebonyi State using political misinformation, the President’s name, and anti-party gimmicks, reiterated the painful fact of Wike’s meddlesomeness in political affairs outside his official and geographic jurisdictions.
“We are certain that Governor Nwifuru is conscious of the ignoble role Wike, then as the governor of Rivers State, played in pushing his predecessor out of the PDP. His outburst finds historical corroboration in a similar challenge undertaken by his predecessor, His Excellency, Engr. David Umahi, who said that the only notable thing Wike has done is the crude accumulation and conversion of public wealth, accusations Wike has not refuted.”
However, continuing its criticism of Governor Nwifuru, the NWC advised him to devote his energy to providing services to the people of Ebonyi rather than threatening the opposition.
“Instead of engaging in political blackmail, spreading unfounded allegations and threatening to use state resources against the opposition, the governor 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”, it added.
The NWC, which is chaired by Honourable Abdulrahman Mohammed, defended Wike, insisting that he was not responsible for the governor’s political travails.
“The PDP rejects in its entirety the governor’s attempt to drag Chief Nyesom Wike into his political misfortunes. Chief Wike is not Governor Nwifuru’s political mate and should not be drawn into the governor’s self-inflicted challenges.
“The truth is that Governor Nwifuru’s challenge is not Chief Wike; his challenge is the people of Ebonyi state who are yearning for competent leadership and genuine development,” the party said.
“If Governor Nwifuru is worried about the next election, he should direct his attention to the PDP governorship candidate, Ambassador Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, who will confront and defeat him at the ballot box. The 2027 election will not be about propaganda, intimidation or blackmail; it will be about performance, accountability and the welfare of Ebonyi people.”
It called on security agencies to take the governor’s threat seriously and hold him responsible should harm befall any of its supporters in the state.
“We call on security agencies and Civil Society Organisations to take serious note of the governor’s disturbing remarks about ‘consuming’ opposition members and leaders in the state. Such language is unbecoming of a public office holder and has the potential to heighten political tension in the state. Political disagreements must never be reduced to threats or rhetoric capable of endangering lives and undermining democratic participation.
“Should anything untoward happen to any of our supporters, leaders or candidates in Ebonyi state, particularly our governorship candidate, Ambassador Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, or any member of his family, Nigerians already know where to direct attention and demand answers,” it stressed.
Meanwhile, the party inaugurated its female youth wing on Thursday to mobilise youths ahead of the general elections in 2027 under the supervision of the National Youth Leader, Ambassador Ibrahim Bala Aboki.
The National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who performed the ceremony at the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat, Abuja, urged the youths to take the mobilisation drive to every nook and cranny of the country.
“Politics does not know religion. It doesn’t stop you from being Muslim or Christian. The one objective of politics is to produce a better Nigeria where your parents can afford school fees, you can start a new business, and you can get a good job after leaving school.
“So, this is an opportunity to mobilise youths, especially females”, Anyanwu charged them.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV