Wike’s issue not novel, PDP intact – Gov Fintiri

Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has said there is no crisis within his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting the issues around the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, are not upsetting to the party.

The governor spoke Wednesday when he appeared as a guest on Trust TV’s 30 Minutes programme on the sideline of his visit to the Media Trust Group’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said contrary to what some people were putting out, the “PDP is waxing very well as far as I am concerned in party politics. We don’t have a crisis. The chairman (Iyorchia Ayu) is out because he had a crisis with his ward, which removed him as a member of the party, which also affected his position. But our constitution is robust enough to have created a fielding gap, which the deputy national chairman (North) has filled and has been doing very well.”

Asked if he thought the acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Umar Damagun, could be substantive chairman, Fintiri said “if the need arises, because the man is versatile. 

“He understands party politics. He has kept the party together, and he has been preaching unity and rebuilding the party and, which if you see it today, there is no party like the PDP.”

On the issues surrounding the position of Wike, Governor Fintiri said he did not think the former Rivers State governor has done anything wrong to even warrant any disciplinary action against him and that the lack of disciplinary action against him does not mean the party has become weak as some have been insinuating.

He said Wike taking up an appointment in the All Progressives Congress-led (APC) federal government despite remaining in the PDP did not start with him, noting that many opposition members had taken appointments in ruling governments in the past.

“At the moment, we are not talking about election but about governance and national unity; and that is what informed Wike to accept the position which he is holding today. And the man (Wike) has never said he has quit the PDP. 

“He is still working for the interest of the PDP, and he has said time without number that he is only serving in the government of national unity. I don’t think he has done any harm (to warrant any disciplinary action against him). He is still a member of the PDP and still attends PDP meetings.”

The Adamawa State governor also said it was too early to ask the PDP to start playing the role of a viral opposition, arguing that “this government needs to be given time. We are in multiple crises in this country. 

“So, we should not be boxing every government into a corner. It will not work for the national interest. We should also have at the back of our minds that there is time to play politics and there is time for governance.”