Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has commended former Delta State Governor and 2023 PDP vice presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, calling it a “smart move” and a monument to political courage.
This came as the former governor of Rivers state chastised the PDP for failing to see it coming.
Wike, speaking at a monthly media briefing in Abuja on Monday, expressed astonishment that the Peoples Democratic Party had not anticipated Okowa’s exit, calling the former governor a seasoned and shrewd politician.
“I’m surprised that PDP said they didn’t see it coming,” Wike remarked. “I won’t call the names of the governors. I call them. I said, Listen, the way things are going, I have warned you people. You said they are governors. I have no problem. Let’s see what will happen.”
Wike further defended Okowa’s decision, insisting it was an honest and principled stance in contrast to others who play both sides.
“He said he was going to support the president. That’s the crime? But the Chairman of the Board of Trustees – the conscience of the party – adopted Alex Otti for a second tenure. Why are people not commenting about that? He adopted the governor under the Labour Party to go for a second term.”
In his view, Okowa chose clarity over duplicity. “Now this man said, ‘Look, I’m not going to do that kind of pretence. I will not be here and will go and support him. Smart politician.”
The former governor of Rivers State, known for his vocal critiques of his former party, used the opportunity to reiterate his concerns about PDP’s leadership and internal cohesion.
He continued, “If you don’t show leadership, you suffer for it. This is what I’ve been saying. When people talk about the governor of Delta State and his deputy and all his team moving out of PDP to APC – what? What wrong did he do?”
It will be recalled that Okowa and the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, defected from the PDP to the ruling APC.
