Elder statesman, Edwin Clark has recommended the setting up of a Disciplinary Committee to investigate the anti-party activities of some members particularly the roles they played which led to the failure of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.
He also identified the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike as another person that also seems to be holding or going for the jugular of the PDP, saying he is the greatest enemy of PDP.
Clark said these in an article titled, “As the National Working Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (Pdp) meets: A Poser- PDP: To Be Or Not To Be?”
According to him, the PDP should set up a strong disciplinary committee “made up a strong people with resilience to resist pecuniary gains, who are courageous to investigate his (Wike’s) activities, and that of any other person/persons suspected to engage in anti-party activities.”
He also recommended the dissolution of the existing NEC of the party for their anti-party activities and appointment of an Acting National Chairman in accordance with the constitution of the party.
Clark said, “I know that many people who read this article will say to themselves that they thought Chief Edwin Clark said he has retired from active and partisan politics. Yes, I said I have resigned from partisan and active politics. But it was one of the famous philosophers Aristotle, who said “Man is by nature a political animal.” He went on to narrate that because no human can flourish on their own, there is a natural tendency of man to partner with their fellow men. And one of these partnerships is that relating to polis, which is the Greek word for community; from where is derived political partnership.
“Therefore, for as long as Almighty God keeps me alive, both physically and mentally, I will continue to speak on governance and political matters, especially when it is tending to adversely affect our nation.
“Most of us supported Barr. Wike in his agitation against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. But he has gone too far in causing tragedy in PDP. His anti party activities must be dealt with decisively.
“I lack words to describe his actions. The nearest description I can give for his actions is political androgynous, he is neither in PDP or APC. He seems simply acquisitive, and the greatest enemy of PDP, manipulating it, with an intent of destroying it.
“The party should immediately revisit the on-line registration of its members as it was initiated by the then National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to save the party from depending on individuals, because as they say, he who pays the piper, dictates the tune.
“The seeming contest for the soul of the PDP between himself and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not only ridiculous but a negation of the ideals for founding the party.
Even though Nyesom Wike, had a good case considering what transpired during the last presidential primary election of the PDP, he has crossed the red line. Today, he is dancing naked in the market.
“He regards himself as the leader of both the PDP and APC in Rivers State, and that is why I described him as someone who can be referred as a political androgynous; an acquisitive person. Wike used his influence on APC National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, to set up a caretaker committee of the party in Rivers State under the leadership of Mr. Tony Okocha, a position he, Mr. Okocha, sees as an opportunity to deride, harass and attempt to humiliate an elected Executive Governor of the State, Siminalayi Fubara.
“The story is the same in PDP in the State; where Barr. Wike recently removed the State Chairman, and recommended him for a federal appointment. Now, with his control of PDP and APC in Rivers State, he has appointed some APC members as caretaker committee members of the party in Rivers State.
“Is Nyesom Wike only waiting for the appropriate time to destroy the PDP and become a full fledge member of the APC? It is alleged that it is the same Barr. Wike who sponsored the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to defect from the PDP to the APC, using the National Secretary of the Party, who was in court as the reason and that PDP has split.
“Even though these members in accordance with constitutional provisions have lost their seats in the House as a result of their defection to another party when there was no crisis in the party on which platform they were elected, Wike is retaining them with the support of Mr President, to the extent of threatening to impeach the Executive Governor, Siminalaye Fubara.
“I will, at this juncture, like to repeat the question I asked in the book I am writing on PDP, ‘Whither PDP: to be or not to be?’. The inordinate ambition of Their Excellencies Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Barr, Nyesom Wike, to be President of the country, will kill the party.
“These two seem to prefer to use their personal funds to establish their leadership, not because of their love for the party. PDP wake up! This is a clarion call. It is true that for some time the party had no funds, particularly the time between Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff.
“Nyesom Wike was the only Governor who financially supported the party. Again, in his usual manner, he insulted and humiliated the party. He dared them not to hold the party convention in Port Harcourt. The party kowtowed to him. Even after that, he continued to harass and intimidate the party. For instance, he sponsored Uche Secondus to be the national chairman of the party against the wishes of most other members. The same Barr. Wike later on instigated and sponsored the removal of Uche Secondus, two months before the party’s National Convention.
“Barr. Wike’s engagement in brash politics seems to be affecting members of the party including the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum and the National Secretary, who take instructions from Barr. Wike. Hence, the sixty members on the platform of the party in the House of Representatives, are calling for the resignation and or removal of the Acting National Chairman.”
Friday Olokor, Abuja
Follow us on:
