Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has called for the immediate expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from the party, describing him as a “disaster” and a threat to the party’s integrity.
Speaking during a phone interview with Vanguard on Tuesday, Lamido expressed his deep dissatisfaction with the current direction of the party and announced his withdrawal from all PDP leadership meetings. He specifically pointed to the continued inclusion of Wike and former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) as unacceptable.
“I’m still a member of the PDP, but I will not take part in any leadership activities as long as Wike and Ortom remain on the BoT. Their presence contradicts the values on which this party was founded,” Lamido stated.
His criticism intensified over Wike’s alleged role in the temporary closure of the PDP National Secretariat, which Lamido described as a betrayal of the party that once elevated Wike politically.
“To shut down the headquarters of the party that gave you your platform is a disgraceful act. It’s like setting fire to your own home,” he said.
Lamido dismissed Wike’s frequent claims of financially supporting the party, comparing his conduct to that of a child who believes financial contributions grant ownership over their parent. “Funding the party doesn’t mean you own it. Loyalty isn’t about money; it’s about principles,” he said.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for reopening the PDP Secretariat, arguing that the move exposed Wike’s lack of political maturity. “Wike tried to prove loyalty to Tinubu by embarrassing his own party, but it was Tinubu who reversed the damage. That says a lot,” he remarked.
Lamenting what he described as a decline in the party’s moral standards, Lamido said the PDP was now tolerating members who had clearly worked against it. He accused Ortom of supporting Labour Party’s Peter Obi during the last presidential election and criticized PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu for his continued stay in office despite disloyalty allegations.
Lamido concluded by calling on the party’s National Working Committee to take decisive action. “Wike must be expelled. Ortom and others who have openly undermined the party should be shown the door. Until then, I will not return to any PDP leadership meeting.”
Leave a Reply