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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Bode George, has stated that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is a bonafide member of the party.
George, who spoke on Arise TV programme, ‘News Day’ said Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, wrote a letter to the party, stating his intention to work in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) government led by President Bola Tinubu.
The former PDP National Vice Chairman (Soutb West) said Wike is not working against the interest of the party.
Justifying Wike’s appointment in the APC government, George said: “Once party A wins an election, it opens the door to say, let’s have a united group. When Obasanjo won the election in 1999, he invited people from ANPP, APGA, AD.
“We can’t just have a Berlin wall to say that once you’re a member of this, you can’t serve there. The fact that you’re serving there doesn’t mean you’ve left your party.
“According to Wike, he wrote a letter to serve in the APC government. He still plays the music. How can he work against the PDP? I don’t believe it.
“They (Wike and Atiku) just didn’t get out in different directions, something happened. And the party leaders must come down, do an in-depth post-mortem analysis of what happened,” he said
Reacting to a recent statement made by Adetokunbo Pearse, one of the party’s chieftain in Lagos State, who stated that the PDP has been suffering in the state due to its weak structure, George said: “I just came back from Ibadan where we had an elders’ meeting in respect to discordant voices that are coming out from Ondo State. People should get back to their various local governments and contribute their quota.
“It’s unfair for committed members of the party to make such assertions in public. Discipline is part of the management in any organsation. What Pearse said isn’t correct.”
The PDP chieftain expressed delight over the meeting held in Oyo State, which was chaired by Governor Seyi Makinde, saying, “it’s a brilliant move.”
George stated that the party is committed to “forge ahead” amidst its troubles, urging leaders to work according to the constitution.