A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, Segun Sowunmi, has blamed President Bola Tinubu for the ongoing internal crises within the opposition party.
Sowunmi criticized Tinubu for appointing Nyesom Wike, a PDP stalwart, as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) without consulting PDP elders.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sowunmi argued that the appointment has disrupted party cohesion and called on Tinubu to rectify the situation by removing Wike and facilitating his return to the PDP.
“President Tinubu is the problem of the PDP,” Sowunmi declared during the interview. “He has no business taking Wike from our party and appointing him as Minister without talking to us.”
The PDP chieftain contrasted Tinubu’s actions with past efforts by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to build a government of national unity.
According to Sowunmi, Obasanjo sought the approval of party elders before appointing members from opposition parties, a practice that Tinubu allegedly ignored.
“When Obasanjo wanted to form a government of national unity, he wrote to the elders of the party,” Sowunmi said. “But what did Tinubu do? He took one of us and put him in a strategic position, and suddenly the whole thing is complicated.”
Sowunmi urged President Tinubu to sack Wike from his ministerial position and facilitate his reintegration into the PDP, arguing that such a move would restore stability and vigor to the party.
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“If he wants everything to be okay, sack Wike and return him back to PDP and see if the party will not have stamina and move fast,” Sowunmi insisted.
Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State and influential PDP figure, has faced criticism from party members for accepting the ministerial role in Tinubu’s administration. His appointment is viewed by some as a betrayal of the PDP, particularly following his controversial role in the 2023 elections, where he was accused of undermining the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Wike has, however, maintained that his decision to serve in Tinubu’s cabinet is in the national interest and does not compromise his PDP membership. His actions have sparked divisions within the party, with some calling for disciplinary measures against him.
Political analysts believe that Wike’s appointment has exacerbated the PDP’s challenges at a time when the party is striving to recover from its loss in the presidential elections.
Dr. Seyi Adegbite, a political scientist, remarked: “Tinubu’s move to include opposition figures in his government reflects his strategic approach to governance, but it has undoubtedly deepened the PDP’s internal conflicts. Wike’s role as FCT Minister not only complicates the party’s unity but also raises questions about his loyalty.”
The PDP leadership is yet to respond officially to Sowunmi’s comments, but the call to address Wike’s position highlights the party’s ongoing struggle to manage dissent and chart a cohesive path forward.
Analysts suggest that resolving these conflicts will be crucial for the PDP’s chances of rebuilding ahead of future elections.