Rivers Crisis: PDP Says APC Has No Right to Complain Over Wike

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) lacks the moral right to criticise the conduct of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, insisting that the ruling party must bear the political consequences of its own choices in Rivers State.

The PDP maintained that Wike is no longer a member of the party and accused the APC of deliberately aligning with him for political gain, only to raise concerns now that the relationship has become contentious.

The party’s position was stated on Tuesday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, in reaction to the public exchange between Wike and APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, over developments in Rivers politics.

Ememobong said the APC secretary might be relying on outdated information regarding Wike’s political status.

“The National Secretary of the APC may genuinely not know who is or is not a member of the PDP, and may therefore be relying on outdated information suggesting that Wike was a PDP member. Wike was expelled from the PDP, along with his supporters, and that is why we sympathise with the problem the APC has brought upon itself by engaging Wike; someone they now lack the moral or legal standing to disown,” he said.

He added that the APC cannot complain about the consequences of actions it willingly undertook.

“The law does not allow you to benefit from a wrong you created, nor can you complain of a voluntary injury. You cannot complain about an act you willingly undertook. So they should manage the situation they have created. After all, what was once seen as an asset has now become a liability, and they must deal with it,” Ememobong stated.

The PDP spokesman rejected attempts to involve his party in the controversy, noting that the same conduct now being criticised was previously applauded when it served APC interests.

“As for his (Basiru’s) comments, he should not drag the PDP into this. It is the same conduct he is now complaining about. When he was engaging in this conduct in a way that favoured the APC, they were jubilating and laughing. This same National Secretary did not complain even once,” he said.

He also questioned Basiru’s activist credentials, urging political actors to assess issues beyond partisan considerations.

“When something is wrong, it is wrong. As a citizen, and as the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, if someone engages in anti-party activity or aligns with another party, I will call that person out. I will say clearly: this does not look good. Either leave that party and join us, or remain independent and support us openly,” Ememobong said.

He insisted that the APC alone benefited from Wike’s actions and must now manage the fallout.

“What the APC is experiencing is a voluntary injury they inflicted on themselves, so they must manage him. After all, the benefits of this nuisance accrued to the APC, and they must now manage the fallout,” he said.

Using a metaphor, Ememobong added: “This is what happens when you keep feeding a monster. One day, you become food in the belly of that monster… and then, they end up in the belly of the monster.”

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