Wike Fires Back at Bode George: “Who Did PDP Make in Lagos?”
The simmering tension within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic turn as Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, slammed PDP chieftain Chief Bode George for criticizing his recent actions particularly the controversial sealing of the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja.
George, a long-standing PDP elder statesman, recently lashed out at Wike, accusing him of sacrilege against the party that “brought him to national prominence.” Speaking with deep emotion, George said, “This is the party that brought you to life. Locking the secretariat is sacrilegious and culturally inadmissible.”
But Wike, never one to shy away from a political brawl, responded with blunt force during a press briefing on Monday shifting the spotlight right back on George.
“Bode George said the PDP made me and I agree to an extent,” Wike said. “But let’s be honest, parties don’t make people; people make parties.”
Then came the jab.
“If Bode George believes the PDP makes politicians, let him tell Nigerians who PDP has made in Lagos since 1999,” Wike challenged. “Not one senator. Not one House of Reps member. Nothing.”
Wike’s retort wasn’t just personal it was a broader critique of the PDP’s chronic weakness in Lagos State, a key political battleground long dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its predecessors.
“While I turned Rivers State into a PDP stronghold and contributed significantly to national wins, the PDP in Lagos has remained a ghost. So who made who, really?”
The fallout stems from Wike’s recent move as FCT Minister to shut down the PDP National Secretariat, a decision that drew backlash across party lines. Critics saw it as a betrayal; Wike sees it as law enforcement, insisting it had nothing to do with internal politics.
Still, his opponents, including George, interpret the move as a symbolic break from the party especially considering Wike’s recent flirtations with the APC-led federal government, including accepting a ministerial appointment from President Tinubu despite PDP affiliation.
In a direct swipe, Wike said loyalty must be measured by contribution, not sentiment.
“I campaigned, I built, I delivered. I didn’t sit on a high horse while others fought in the trenches,” he said, referencing his role in sustaining PDP dominance in Rivers and his heavy presence in national political discourse.
Wike’s comments raise deeper questions about the PDP’s internal cohesion and relevance especially in Lagos, where the party has failed to make electoral inroads for over two decades.
Meanwhile, George and other party elders maintain that Wike’s recent choices are a betrayal of the party’s principles and its foundational legacy.
As 2027 draws closer, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the PDP is not just fighting external enemies — it’s battling itself.
Analysis
Wike’s media offensive is more than a defense it’s a signal. His growing autonomy and willingness to call out PDP elders show a potential political repositioning. Whether he’s testing waters for a new party alignment or solidifying his influence within PDP, one thing is clear: Wike is done playing nice. And in a party struggling for direction, that makes him both a threat and a power player.
Reference
Wike Fires Back at Bode George: “Who Did PDP Make in Lagos?”