PDP chieftain Bode George has dismissed claims that Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), owns the party or has the freedom to act unilaterally.
Speaking in an interview on Arise TV on June 26, George firmly rejected the notion that Wike holds undue influence within the party.
During the interview, anchor Rufai Oseni remarked that Nigerian politics is often driven by financial power rather than intellectual vision. “If intellectual prowess determined leadership, Professors would be Presidents in Nigeria by now,” Oseni stated. “But that’s not the case. It’s about owo—money. Nigerian politics is ‘Owonikoko’ politics. That’s why someone like Wike can claim he kept the party afloat financially when it was struggling. And despite your claim that no one is bigger than the party, it seems today Wike is.”
George responded strongly to this assertion.
“No, no, I do not agree with you that Wike owns the party. Absolutely not,” he said. “He joined the PDP like every other member. If the assumption is that his continued influence is only due to money, just wait until the National Executive Committee (NEC) meets and makes firm decisions on those who have erred. Then you’ll see the party is very much alive.”
He continued, “When did Wike even join the PDP? Who said he owns it? He has contributed, yes—but to claim ownership of the party is simply false. It’s not possible. We are not a party owned by one person.”
When asked to clarify which party he believed was owned by an individual, George said bluntly:
“The APC. Their leader said it himself—‘I own it.’”