Wike Blasts APC

Ugochukwu Desmond

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has again berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government for gross underperformance.

Governor Wike said the leadership of the country or any other State of the federation cannot be entrusted anymore to the APC as the party has performed woefully on all fronts.

Wike made the assertion while fielding questions from journalists within the court premises in Jos Town where Jonah Jang, the former governor of Plateau State was arraigned on Wednesday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had taken Jang alongside Yusuf Pam, an ex-cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State to court on alleged fraud.

He told journalists when the court session went on break that it is obvious to every Nigerian to see how the federal government under the APC has failed to bring to an end the needless killings in parts of the country.

According to him, the APC-led Federal Government has also not addressed the hardship it has brought upon Nigerians.

“It is not about the Muslims, it is not about Christians. It is not about the North. It is not about the South. The killings, the insecurity, the hardship, the poverty is everywhere.

“Look at what is happening in Plateau State. Look at how innocent people are being killed daily and it also applies in other states. Christians are dying here, Muslims are dying there.

“Plateau State is ripe for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take over because APC has performed woefully as far as Nigeria and this state is concerned. I stand to be challenged by anybody.”

Governor Wike said he has not told anybody that he wants to run for election but what is not in doubt is that there has to be a united PDP that is focused before anyone can talk about winning an election.

“Therefore, every individual has to keep his own aspiration and focus on how the party will be united to salvage the country and to salvage Plateau State too from APC.”

Speaking further, Governor Wike gave reasons as to why he was in Plateau State and said it was to see how unity can be engendered in the Plateau State PDP.

Particularly, Governor Wike said, his visit to Plateau State was to seek reconciliation between Jeremiah Useni and Jonah Jang.

He said since his visit coincided with the court case against Jang was heard, he felt it was appropriate to attend in solidarity.

“I think for me, this is one of those things you face after you’ve served your fatherland. As a mark of solidarity, I’m here to give him courage, to reassure him that we are behind him. We will do all we can within the ambit of the law to give him the support.”

Wike broker truce between Jang and Useni.

In the meantime, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has brokered a truce between the immediate past governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, and Senator Jeremiah Useni.

Governor Wike, who met with the two Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders in Jos, Plateau State capital on Wednesday, said his reconciliatory visit was necessary if the party is to reclaim the State governorship position and defeat the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 general election.

The Rivers State governor during the meeting which took place at the residence of Senator Useni explained that his visit was necessitated by friction that had existed between the two leaders. And he noted that if the friction is not urgently resolved, it would affect the success of the party in the future.

“I do know that there will be by-election at the federal constituency and state constituency, and then again we are talking about the gubernatorial and national election next year. If the party is not united, no matter how bad APC is, there is no way we can win .”

He further continued: “And so, for me, personal sacrifices can be made if you’ve fought wars for this country for the unity of Nigeria and today Nigeria is bleeding, not only Nigeria is bleeding, Plateau too is bleeding. I have no apology to say that the people of Plateau State are waiting for you both to put the party together and then you will just take back Plateau State. Plateau state is a natural PDP state.”

Governor Wike stated that it will be a disservice to the people of Plateau if the two leaders allow the APC to remain in power because of a small disagreement between them. He, therefore, urged them to set aside their political difference in the interest of the party.

“There are disagreements everywhere. There are disagreements in the party both at the national level. So, it is not a question of I am right. It is not a question of Jang is right, you are wrong or you are right, Jang is wrong. It is a question of, for whatever it takes, can we please, in the name of God, leave our personal interests and make our party move forward.”

The Rivers State governor implored both Jang and Senator Useni to make personal sacrifices to move the party forward not only in Plateau State but in Nigeria at large. According to him, the unity of the party is key at this crucial moment because APC moles within the PDP are trying to sow the seed of discords.

“APC is trying to penetrate our party to make sure that the leadership of the party at the national level is being distracted through one or two persons, but we are making sure that does not happen. While we are doing that we also want to make sure that the branches are also united.”

Governor Wike explained that rebuilding the party is what is most paramount to concerned members of the PDP who want the party to return to power at the center and retake the majority of the States in the country.

If the party is united, then we are sure of coasting home in 2023, and not just the national election, also Plateau State, knowing fully well that Plateau is a PDP state but somehow we are no longer in power in Plateau State.”

After a closed-door meeting with the two PDP leaders, Governor Wike announced that they have agreed to set aside their difference and work together.

“I can tell you that the two of them have agreed. They will meet on their own, compare notes, and share, then we will later meet. By the grace of God, I can tell you that PDP will bounce back in Plateau State.”

Governor Wike also took a swipe at the ruling APC and declared that Nigerians who are already disenchanted with the pervading hunger in the land, insecurity, and growing to abject poverty are anxiously waiting for the PDP to return to power and rescue the nation. And for this reason, he urged PDP members to unite in order to successfully wrest power from the APC.

“We have to put ourselves together. If we put ourselves together, then we will be helping Nigerians. But if we don’t put ourselves today, then Nigerians will not be happy with us because that means we are allowing the ruling party, its maladministration to remain in power.”

Former Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, thanked Governor Wike for visiting Jos to broker a truce between him and Senator Useni.

He further disclosed that following the intervention of Governor Wike, himself and Senator Useni have agreed to work together in the interest of the party.

“We have agreed to work together to ensure the unity of PDP on the Plateau and ensure victory in 2023 election, not only governorship, all other elections, Federal or state. We want PDP to take its rightful position again on the Plateau and this is what we are going to work on. We want to thank His Excellency for coming to talk to us and we have agreed that we will continue from here.”

On his part, Senator Useni commended Governor Wike for finding time to come to Jos on a reconciliatory visit. He assured the governor that himself his former state governor will henceforth forge a common alliance in the interest of the party.

He disclosed that he has been following the developmental stride of the Rivers State governor and urged other governors to emulate him.

“I have been following your activities and I always tell people that if we have governors like you, Nigeria would have been changed.”