Mark Jacob, a former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to make the honorable decision to leave the party.
Speaking on Arise News’s ‘Morning Show’ on Thursday, Jacob accused Wike, who holds a prominent position in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, of exacerbating internal conflicts within the PDP.
He also criticized Wike for his perceived lack of integrity.
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”I see him as a coward who is not bold enough to leave the PDP and go to the APC. Having taken a stance against the PDP, a gentleman who wants to be respected should have resigned from the PDP. You cannot be blowing hot and cold at the same time. You cannot be kicking against the PDP and still claim you are still PDP,” Mr Jacob said.
He continued, “It is completely ungentlemanly. Anybody with a good conscience who wants to be respected even by his children should be ashamed when he does things like these because it is (a) complete irony.”
Mr Jacob said, “It is time people tell him the truth.”
“You cannot in good conscience say you are a member of the PDP and you are fighting PDP; it is not done anywhere,” he added.
Mark Jacob’s remarks follow a recent call from Ijaw national leader Edwin Clark, who urged the PDP leadership in an open letter to investigate Nyesom Wike for alleged anti-party activities and expel him if found guilty.
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Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, has been critical of the PDP leadership after losing the party’s presidential nomination for the 2023 election to Atiku Abubakar. He refused to support Abubakar in the election and instead endorsed APC candidate Bola Tinubu, who won the presidency.
Wike’s appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is seen as a reward for his support of Tinubu during the election. Since becoming minister, Wike has been in conflict with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, whom he had supported as his successor.
This dispute has fueled accusations of anti-party activities against Wike, given his significant role in the APC-led government.
During a media briefing on Wednesday marking his first year as minister, Wike rejected calls for him to leave the PDP, stating he had no intention of doing so.
He defended his decision to support Tinubu, arguing that it was time for the South to hold the presidency after Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
The PDP is currently grappling with various internal issues at both state and national levels. Acting National Chairman Umar Damagun has been accused of colluding with Wike to harm the party.
Jacob criticized the party’s leadership for its inability to manage members who are perceived as undermining the party, stating that the PDP has lost its structural integrity.
“The party leadership must wake up to its responsibility. The party leadership must leave all this sensationalism, abandon all these selfish and individual issues and look at what the party should be doing,” Mr Jacob said.
He expressed optimism that the situation within the party would soon stabilize and improve.
