The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, August 21, vowed to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissing rumours of a potential defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike’s stance comes amidst a battle for control of the Rivers state PDP chapter.
The former Rivers State governor was appointed by President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), last year.
Speaking on a live broadcast monitored by our correspondent to mark his one year in office, Wike said he is dedicated to the PDP, despite facing opposition from State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other party leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He has vowed to fight to correct the injustices within the party and ensure that the rights of members are protected.
Wike’s appointment by President Tinubu, he clarified, was not a precursor to his departure from the PDP, rather, he said it was a testament to his conviction in Tinubu’s ability to address the country’s challenges, which motivated his support for the president’s candidacy in the 2023 election.
He said: “I will not leave PDP even when the fight at home (Rivers state) and at the national gets tougher. I will fight to the last. I am not prepared to join the APC. I have said it and I want to repeat it again. The work I am doing here was handed over to me by the president. And I am focus on achieving the task before me.
“I will not fold my arms and allow the party I have suffered for over the years to continuously do injustice to members. I will not accept that.”
Wike’s reaction comes a day after the PDP Board of Trustees declared support for Fubara, amid the ongoing face-off between Wike and his successor, Fubara.
Wike has declared the Park and Pay scheme in the nation’s capital illegal.
He, however, frowned at the sharing formula, where the consultant takes 80%, and the FCT administration takes 20%.
He said: “The call from a senior advocate, brought to light a scheme that has been siphoning government funds under the guise of a legal operation.
“The scheme, which appears to have been operating under the radar, highlights a critical flaw in the system that allows private consultants to pocket the lion’s share of revenues meant for the government.
“These are things we need to fight within the system. Sometimes, if you don’t bring it to our attention, we may not know. We can’t be everywhere,” Wike emphasized, underscoring the challenges faced in overseeing the sprawling FCT administration.
“The incident unfolded when a senior advocate reached out to him with a troubling report. He said, ‘Sir, some people came to our office and are trying to seize our cars. They claim to be from the Transport Secretariat.’ I asked him to give the person the phone, and I asked the person, ‘Who are you?’. He said he is from ‘Park and Pay from the Transport Secretariat”.
Wike, who was unaware of such activities, immediately sought clarification. “I wasn’t aware of this, so I called the person in charge of it. I asked, ‘Who collects the money?’ Unknown to us, there are agreements between the secretariat and some people who claim to be consultants. So, the consultant takes 80%, and the FCT administration takes 20%,” Wike explained, visibly disturbed by the discovery.
Wike’s revelation has sparked a broader discussion about transparency and accountability within the FCT’s operations.
The minister made it clear that such activities are illegal, and that immediate action would be taken to dismantle the operation.
He said: “I’m trying to say that it’s illegal, and nothing like that exists. And if my colleague hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have known. This incident has not only brought to light a specific case of corruption but has also highlighted the importance of vigilance in governance”.
Wike’s swift response is expected to lead to a broader investigation into similar practices across the FCT, ensuring that the government’s coffers are protected from exploitation by unscrupulous actors.
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