By Dapo Akinrefon
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, on Saturday, took a swipe at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, over his remarks on former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George.
Read Also: ‘He has no electoral value’ – Wike mocks Bode George
The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Dr Christopher Odianarewo, said Wike’s outburst raises more questions than it answers and further exposes the depth of his obsession with Chief George.
The FCT Minster, through his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, had said he had no regret blocking George’s PDP national chairmanship.
However, reacting to Wike’s remarks, the Lagos PDP spokesperson faulted the Minister, saying he is more like that of a man still preoccupied with an old political disagreement.
Odianarewo said: “On behalf of the Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), I write in response to your statement released on August 8 2026, through your spokesman, Mr. Lere Olayinka.
“Quite frankly, your latest outburst raises more questions than it answers and further exposes the depth of your obsession with Chief Olabode George.
“Your statement appears less like that of a Federal Minister focused on the responsibilities of his office and more like that of a man still preoccupied with an old political disagreement.
“Let us therefore address the issues one after another.
“High Chief Olabode George once expressed his legitimate aspiration to lead our great party at the national level. He did so openly, legitimately and within the provisions of the PDP constitution.
“But unlike those who have elevated personal ambition above party unity and democratic principles, High Chief George demonstrated political maturity by stepping down his ambition when it became clear that doing so was necessary in the interest of fairness, party unity and stability.
“He did not need Nyesom Wike to teach him sacrifice.
“So when you repeatedly claim that “we stopped him”, one question naturally arises:
“Who appointed you the owner of the PDP?
“And who gave you the authority to determine which legitimate aspiration of a party member should live or die?
“Your statement that you personally went to High Chief George’s residence in Abuja after the convention to “appease him” is equally revealing.
“Why did you need to go to his residence to appease a man you now describe as politically irrelevant and without value?
“If he was truly the “failed politician” you now portray him to be, why were you, as a sitting governor, personally visiting his home?
“Was it because you respected his stature and influence then, but have conveniently forgotten it today?
“Your words expose the contradiction.Minister Wike, if you genuinely want to understand the PDP’s electoral history since 2003, perhaps you should speak with people who were at the centre of those national political developments.
“As we stated in our previous response, you may wish to seek clarification from former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar about the events and political decisions that shaped the PDP’s fortunes after 2003.
“But conveniently blaming Bode George for every electoral setback of the PDP is historically dishonest.
“And since your informants appear to have supplied you with selective history, allow us to remind you:
“The PDP won elections in Lagos State in subsequent electoral cycles and maintained elected representatives at different levels of government.
“The party had members in the House of Representatives, Lagos State House of Assembly and Local Government Councils.
“Therefore, the attempt to rewrite Lagos PDP’s electoral history as though the party disappeared after 1999 is simply propaganda.
“You cited the voting figures of High Chief George’s polling unit and attempted to reduce decades of political service to the number of votes recorded in one polling unit.
“That argument is intellectually weak.
“If political relevance is determined exclusively by the number of votes recorded in an individual’s polling unit, then perhaps every politician in Nigeria should be judged by that same ridiculous standard.
“Leadership is bigger than a polling unit. Political history is bigger than a polling unit.
“And the contributions of Chief Olabode George to the PDP and Lagos politics cannot be erased by manipulating isolated election figures.
“More importantly, what have you personally achieved in Lagos that gives you the moral authority to lecture Lagosians about their political choices?
“As for your reference to Mr. Deji Doherty, we will not dignify that portion of your statement with unnecessary seriousness.
“However, since you have chosen to make him a subject of discussion, perhaps you should first ask him to also demonstrate his electoral strength at his own polling unit before presenting him as the political saviour of Lagos PDP. Lagosians are sophisticated.
“They know the difference between genuine political structures and television theatrics.
“They also know those who have consistently worked for the growth of the PDP and those who suddenly become loud whenever there is political patronage to pursue.”
The party, however, tasked the Minister to concentrate on the responsibilities assigned to you as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
It said: “You have a full time responsibility in Abuja. Lagos has its political affairs.
“The Lagos State PDP will not be intimidated by your threats, insults, name calling, or repeated attempts to rewrite our history.
“Olabode George does not need your permission to speak.He does not need your endorsement to remain relevant.
“And he certainly does not need your validation to continue contributing to the democratic development of Nigeria.
“If you disagree with him politically, that is your democratic right.
“But repeatedly attacking his character, diminishing his contributions and boasting that you “blocked” his political aspiration does not make you bigger than him.
“It only demonstrates how deeply unsettled you remain by a man you claim is politically insignificant.
“That contradiction speaks for itself. Minister Wike, Lagos PDP advises you respectfully:
Face your work in Abuja and leave Lagos alone.
“Lagos has its people, its own history, its own political structures and, most importantly, its own destiny.
“You can not impose your Rivers political mentality on Lagos. Lagos no be Rivers.”
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