The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the ruling party’s interest is to see opposition parties remain trapped in internal crises, arguing that a divided opposition cannot effectively challenge those in power.
Speaking during Media Parley, Wike said political parties must resolve their internal disputes and strengthen their structures if they want to remain credible challengers to the ruling party. “The ruling party finds out that you have that kind of a purpose. What will be their prayer? Their prayer will be, may you not resolve the crisis. May you not resolve the crisis.”
He recalled the crisis that affected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2017, saying members of the party recognised that the ruling party at the time would benefit from its internal divisions. “Now, for example, in 2017, PDP had a problem. We saw that the ruling party at this time had wanted to destroy PDP by imposing a party chairman on us. We saw it clearly. People like us came out to say we will not accept it. We are going to fight it.”
Wike said the PDP’s ability to resist attempts to weaken its structure helped preserve its capacity to compete politically. “Now, why am I telling you this? We want to stay high on it. And we won.”
He argued that the strength of an opposition party is critical to determining whether it can mount a serious challenge against an incumbent government, pointing to the PDP’s performance in the 2019 and 2023 elections. “The ruling party is strong. We have to challenge the ruling party. That was why he was able to contest in 2019 and contest under the party in 2023.”
According to Wike, Nigeria’s political landscape demonstrates the importance of maintaining a strong opposition capable of preventing the ruling party from dominating the electoral space.
“Nobody is more difficult to believe that the president would have won. He did not. Why? There was a strong, formidable opposition party.”
Wike, lamented the current state of opposition politics, saying internal disagreements have significantly weakened the ability of opposition parties to mount an effective challenge. “But now, everything appears to have fallen apart.”
He warned that political parties should not underestimate the consequences of allowing their internal disputes to persist. We want to stay high on it. “And we won, the ruling party finds out that you have that kind of a purpose. What will be their prayer? Their prayer will be, may you not resolve the crisis. May you not resolve the crisis.”
Wike also spoke about political structures and the importance of maintaining relationships with those who help political leaders attain office. “Yes, he tried to do it by himself, and he wanted to set up his own structure as against the structure that built him. In fact, it did not take up to 100 days, and we saw it. We said something must be fundamentally wrong.”
He said political leaders should be cautious about abandoning the structures and people who supported their emergence, arguing that attempts to operate entirely independently can create political problems. “You have to think well. If you make the mistake he made by saying, ‘Yes, I can do it alone; those who gave me support, I don’t care; I don’t need them.’ Those who didn’t want you will come in. There is no way anybody who didn’t want you to be in a position will want you to succeed.”
Wike said Fubara moved too quickly to establish his own political structure after becoming governor, rather than building on the structure through which he emerged. “Yes, he tried to do it by himself, and he wanted to set up his own structure as against the structure that built him. In fact, it did not take up to 100 days, and we saw it. We said something must be fundamentally wrong.”
Wike also rejected allegations that his political disagreements with Fubara were driven by demands for money, describing such claims as a familiar response to political disputes. “Forget about people who say you were asking him for money. You know one thing in politics is that the moment you disagree on an issue, the only thing you can use to get the support of the people is that they are asking me for money.”
Asked specifically whether he had demanded money from Fubara, Wike dismissed the allegation and questioned why he would need to seek financial support from the Rivers governor.
“Forget about people who say you were asking him for money. You know one thing in politics is that the moment you disagree on an issue, the only thing you can use to get the support of the people is that they are asking me for money.”
The former governor said his concern was for Fubara to stabilise Rivers State and build on the foundations laid by his administration. “My thinking is that we do need to compete with Lagos. We have laid the foundation; he (Fubara) should be able to continue from there; we will give you all the necessary support.”
He also warned political leaders to carefully consider the advice they receive from people around them, noting that political support networks can include both genuine allies and individuals pursuing personal interests. “Now you just came to office; somebody now comes, yes, he is trying to support you. Must it be his name? Why not try now to put yourself, and people will know it is you?.”
Wike added that political leaders must understand where advice is likely to lead before acting on it. “So, people will go through your father and all kinds of things. So it now behooves you to sit and say, this kind of advice, where will it lead me to?.
He maintained that opposition parties must strengthen themselves if they are to provide an effective alternative to the ruling party “Nobody leaves the party. The party was strong. And that was why we won.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
