Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced that the internal crisis plaguing the party has calmed, proclaiming an open-door policy for former members desiring to return.
Wike compared politics to a game of football rather than a “fight to the finish” during a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
He urged dissatisfied politicians to put aside personal disputes for the sake of the party’s advancement.
Addressing the aftermath of the party’s recent national convention, the former Rivers State governor declared that the time for internal squabbles had past, emphasizing that the party was now focused on reconciliation and rebuilding its ranks.
“As far as I’m concerned, the convention has come and gone. People are trooping in. I will say, the door is open. Yes, we have had crisis. Now the crisis is over. Do we still have to shut our doors? No. Certainly not,” Wike said.
The minister added that numerous members who had previously abandoned the PDP had already expressed their desire to return, stressing that the political atmosphere was becoming more acceptable to those willing to do the work.
Wike also criticized the do-or-die mentality that is commonly associated with Nigerian politics, claiming that such an approach made reconciliation impossible.
He characterized the party’s recent troubles as a misunderstanding of goals rather than a lasting division.
“Politics is not a fight to finish. It’s like a game, like a football. If you see it as a do or die, it becomes difficult to reconcile. For us, it’s not that way.
“We have had our differences, but if you’re really sincere, there’s nothing left. We can do it together and move the party forward,” he said.
Wike advised budding politicians that political significance is gained via visibility and hard effort, not just a title.
He intimated that those who stayed on the sidelines would not be considered genuine contestants in future polls.
“There’s no doubt that we have a lot of work to do, but what is important is that we have put the convention behind us,” he added.
