Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has launched a fresh attack on a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, questioning his political relevance and contribution to the party’s success.
Wike made the remarks during a media parley in Abuja, monitored by The News Chronicle on Tuesday, while responding to recent comments by the PDP chieftain.
The FCT minister dismissed George’s status as one of the founding fathers of the PDP, arguing that the veteran politician had failed to build the party into a formidable political force in Lagos since the return of democracy in 1999.
“You see, Bode George is one of the founding fathers. He founded something he could not maintain in Lagos.”
“Since 1999, PDP has never won one seat in anything. He was a founding father using the success of other people in other states. A founding father, since 1999 to today, cannot show what progress has been made in his own state,” he said.
Wike contrasted George’s record with his own political achievements, saying he had successfully established and strengthened the PDP in Rivers State during his time in office.
“I brought this party to my own state. What is the result? What is the progress we have made in this state? Nothing, nothing in a founding father. You don’t answer a founding father by mouth. It is by results,” he said.
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The minister also cautioned elder statesmen against making what he described as reckless political statements, noting that while Nigerian culture accords respect to elders, politics remains a contest where public comments attract responses.
“That’s why I say elders should be careful the way they make statements. In our tradition, when an elder speaks, you don’t respond. But politics is different because it is a struggle for power,” he said.
Wike also criticised George’s repeated attacks on the judiciary, alleging that the former PDP leader had previously expressed confidence in the judicial process until it did not favour him.
