“I Dare Any PDP Governor to Call Me a Mole on National TV” – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has thrown down the gauntlet, daring any Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor or leader to publicly call him an All Progressives Congress (APC) mole. Wike issued the challenge during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television program aired on Friday night in Abuja.

Wike, a former PDP governor of Rivers State, boldly stated that he had notified various PDP structures before accepting the ministerial role under the APC-led government. “Before I accepted my appointment as Minister, I wrote letters to the PDP in my state, my zone, and the national leadership. If anyone in the PDP claims I am a mole, let them name names,” he said.

He further criticized those who question his political decisions, accusing some within the party of thinking they are “smarter” than others. “What I want to do, I will do. What I don’t want to do, I won’t,” he declared.

Wike also reiterated his decision not to support the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, a stance he said was based on principles of equity and fairness. Despite his opposition at the national level, he emphasized that the PDP won at all levels in Rivers State under his leadership. “I challenge any of them in other PDP states to claim the kind of success we had—100 percent wins in the governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly elections,” Wike added.

The minister also revealed a recent interaction with Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, who sought his support for his preferred successor, Dr. Asue Ighodalo. Wike claimed he refused, citing past experiences where his support for Obaseki yielded only “unending insults.”

Touching on the controversy surrounding the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Wike confirmed that the REC is his first cousin but firmly stated that no one, not even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, could intimidate him into doing anything unethical. “Nobody born of a woman can intimidate my cousin,” he said.

The tension between Wike and certain elements within the PDP continues to escalate, as he remains unapologetic about his decisions and alliances. He also expressed deep resentment towards Rivers State Governor Similaye Fubara, accusing him of attempting to dismantle the political structure that brought him to power, a betrayal Wike is unwilling to forgive.