Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has stated that the mass defection of party leaders and state governors from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress has justified his support for President Bola Tinubu, as those who previously criticized him are now APC members.
Wike made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja at the start of construction of the outer southern expressway’s main carriageways.
Wike stated that several governors had previously criticized him for destabilizing the PDP and working for the APC, but that the governors should instead praise him for “doing a good job” in clearing the way for them to join the ruling party.
“I have been watching on daily television and social media people who said I want to destabilize the party; I am working for the APC. All of them are now in the APC. So, which means if it is true, they should commend me for working for where they are heading. So, I should be commended for doing a good job for them,” he said.
Chronicle NG reports that in the past 48 hours, the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, had resigned his membership of the PDP and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, stating that his decision was in the interest of national development under President Tinubu’s leadership.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, also resigned his membership of the party on Wednesday, along with 19 members of the State House of Assembly, making him the fourth PDP governor to defect ahead of the 2027 general elections, bringing the number of PDP governors from 11 as of October 2024 to only eight as of today.
Wike noted that the governors no longer had an excuse, as the “decisive leadership” of President Tinubu had ensured that every state had enough resources to pay salaries and embark on credible projects and activities.
“Let every state be sincere to their people and to Nigerians. I was a governor for eight years. I was a governor running around banks to look for money to do projects. Sometimes, every month, the money that comes will not be enough to pay salaries and all other allowances, not to mentiondoing projects.
“Today, by the leadership of somebody, by the decisive leadership of somebody who has made it possible for all the states and the Federal Capital Territory not to be running around banks again. Rather, banks are now looking for states to say, ‘Look, don’t throw us away; we are here.’
“Somebody has made that possible; every state now has money. Not only to pay salaries, not only to carry out government activities, but also to embark on projects. It was not like that before,” Wike said.
He hailed his decision to defect and assist Tinubu’s administration as “worthwhile,” adding that no governor will leave debts for their successors as in the past.
“So, if, for that reason, so many people are going to support Mr. President, I think it is worthwhile. Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts for his successor, unlike what used to happen before. That is the leadership of somebody.
“And that’s what this country needs for now. Visionary leadership, purposeful leadership, that will be able to take decisions. Decisions that people were running away from taking when they had the opportunity,” Wike said.
