By Emma Arubi; Warri
A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chieftain in Delta State, Hon. Oliver Mala has stated why the leadership of the PDP in the country should be grateful to the Federal Capital Territory,FCT, Minister and former Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
Mr. Mala, a former Councilor representing Oporaza Ward in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State revealed that, ” it was Nyesom Wike that revived the PDP after the 2015 general elections when the PDP leadership decamped to other parties”, saying that:”if not for Wike, PDP would have long been dead and buried”.
According to him,“by fighting Wike and suspending his followers and supporters, the Party is not likely to succeed in the next elections in Rivers State if absolute care is not taken. According to him, Wike remains a PDP chieftain any day because, he funded the party and stood by them all through the last elections, except for the presidential election”, he opined.
The Gbaramatu born politician stated that, “what Wike did is only that, he stood against the party presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku whose emergence breached and compromised the party’s agreement that the presidential candidate must come from the southern part of Nigeria”.
He insisted that Alhaji Atiku should not think of contesting for presidency again under the PDP, saying that, he should look elsewhere.
“Even then, we shall join hands with Wike to ensure that he (Atiku) fails again. Wike is not a black leg in the PDP because he is working for the APC- led Federal Government. He is working for the entire country as it were and he is doing marvelously well for the good and interest of the country which is most paramount in his mind. He is a detribalized Nigerian. His fingerprints are all over country without discrimination.
“Those fighting him in the PDP hierarchy are not helping the party. He stand out today as a statesman and he supported his PDP party all the way except the presidency based on the betrayal that an Atiku presidency posed. And this does not constitute anti-party in anyway as a Nigerian with his freedom to vote for his choice of candidate in an election“.
Mr. Mala noted that Wike did not and never hid his preference for the APC presidential flag-bearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in that election. “He was frank, sincere and steadfast to his course”, he emphasized.