₦airaland Forum

By Olu Fasan

NYESOM Wike, the maverick Rivers State governor, is a toxic influence on Nigerian politics. Like all narcissists, he thrives on applause and adulation from sycophants and praise singers. His outsized presence in Nigerian politics is fuelled by the oxygen of publicity he constantly receives from the media even for his most infantile behaviour.

But after next month’s presidential election, whatever the outcome, and after he leaves office as governor on May 29, Wike would gradually fade into political irrelevance and eventually end up in the “dustbin of history”. It would be a good riddance!

If those words are harsh, well, it’s because they should be. Public life is too important to be the property of narcissists, of self-aggrandising megalomaniac, who see everything through the prism of self-promotion. Politics, democracy and the party system that underpins them must never be so personalised that any individual is too powerful and above party discipline.
In a system where only parties can hold political power, nothing undermines the robustness of an electoral democracy like when a major party descends into dysfunction, hijacked by self-indulgent rebels. 

By forming a renegade ‘party’, so-called G5, within a party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and by working actively for the defeat of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in next month’s election, Wike engages in extraordinary anti-party activity and subverts the party system that is the foundation of electoral democracy in Nigeria.

Even worse, he’s doing so not for any unimpeachable moral principle but for pure self-interest and vindictiveness. The G5, comprising the PDP’s five rogue governors, who behave like Wike’s bag-carriers, calls itself Integrity Group. But it absolutely lacks integrity.

Why? Because the G5 members’ actions contradict the principles they claim to be fighting for, the principles that give them such a moral high ground that they feel justified to go for the jugular, working single-mindedly to make sure their supposed party loses next month’s presidential election. It’s unprecedented!

Unprecedented? What about the PDP’s G5 of 2015? Well, the G5 of 2015 worked against President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election, but they did so honourably. They left the PDP and joined the APC, helping Muhammadu Buhari to defeat Jonathan. But Wike’s G5 wants to stay in the PDP and campaign against its presidential candidate.

Think about it. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, a G5 member, who is seeking re-election, is saying to Oyo State’s electorate:

“Re-elect me, but don’t vote for my party’s presidential candidate.” Similarly, Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, also G5 members, who are running for the Senate, are telling voters in their senatorial districts: “Elect me as PDP senator, but don’t vote for my party’s presidential candidate.”

The utter absurdity of these propositions is self-evident, as is the brazen breach of party discipline. An aggrieved politician can either fight his cause within a party or leave. But to stay in a party and openly support an opposition candidate is a no-no! A recent University of California study found that card-carrying Americans may disagree with their own party but won’t help an opposing one!
This played out recently in the US Congress. A core of 20 Republican members of Congress opposed Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Republican, as Speaker of the House of Representatives. They rejected him in 14 rounds of voting. The Republicans have 222 members as against the Democrats’ 212.

Given that only 218 votes are needed to elect the Speaker, just six Republicans could have voted for the Democrats’ candidate, Hakeem Jeffries, to become the Speaker. But none did. Despite their visceral opposition to McCarthy, none of the 20 Republican rebels wanted a Democrat as Speaker. Rather, after rejecting McCarthy in 14 rounds of voting, they elected him in the 15th round.

Party discipline prevailed. But Wike’s G5 would not only vote against their party’s presidential candidate, but they’re also asking Nigerians to reject him. Yet, as I said, they are doing so with absolutely no integrity because their actions contradict the principles they’re purportedly defending.

Take the presidency. They argue that on grounds of equity, justice and fairness, another Northerner should not succeed President Buhari. I agree. But based on those principles, where should power go in the South: South-West (eight years as president, eight as vice-president since 1999) or South-South (five years as president, three as vice-president since 1999) or South-East (nil since 1999)? So, why did Wike want to be PDP’s presidential candidate? Why didn’t he, on grounds of equity, justice and fairness, support a South-East candidate?

Recently, when Bola Tinubu led South-West APC leaders to Pa Rueben Fasoranti’s Akure home to solicit his endorsement, Governor Makinde sent his deputy to tell the group: “Although we don’t belong to the same party, we belong to the same race. I will do what Yoruba elders say.” So, on grounds of ethnicity, Makinde favours Tinubu over his own party’s candidate.

Indeed, Wike and most other G5 members also favour Tinubu. But do they think Tinubu’s candidacy is defensible on grounds of equity, justice and fairness? Are they blind to his exclusionist Muslim-Muslim ticket and the ethnic and religious tensions his presidency would engender, not to mention his acute character and integrity deficits? They are enemies of Nigeria!

Wike says his umbrage is against Iyorchia Ayu, PDP’s national chairman, who refuses to honour his vow to resign if a Northerner emerged as PDP’s presidential candidate. Fair enough. But what about Wike’s own vow. At the PDP’s presidential primary election in May last year, Wike said: “Let me vow today. Anyone who emerges here, I will support the person to the fullest.”

What about that vow? There are two Wikes. One angrily sprouts grievances and proclaims his victimhood. The other sees politics as performance art and provides a rolling circus of political entertainment. Well, there’s a third: a deeply vengeful man who’s working day and night against his party’s presidential candidate. Whatever the outcome next month, he’ll be a footnote in history. His toxicity is bad for politics!

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/01/2023-wike-is-heading-for-the-dustbin-of-history/

Wike overdo.
Why can you leave pdp than to be playing anti-party activities.

Personally I think wike is gradually losing his steam..

Well said.

Mod, this is front page worthy.

Whoever wins, Wike will be relegated to the history books. Tinubu can't trust him, neither will Atiku or Obi.

Unfortunately, he's dragged 4 other givernors plus some elderstatesmen with him.

Wike's congratulatory messages to Obi aftermath his victory in the fourth coming elections won't be accepted by us!!

He is doing little or nothing towards to ensure our victory now.


Hello MODS hope we are still together? Front desk, pls.

Wike has left his permanent mark. When Okowa the snitch sold South South presidency for VP slot, Wike stood up and opposed it.

Wike is made for life. He can choose to retire like Odilli.

No reasonable person should support wike action.
The guy is doing too much. You be in association and same time working against it.
Honorable man will just leave.

The reality of life is that f*ckups are ALWAYS treated depending on who is on top after a rough and tough tumbling in the mud. Also, the tactics deployed during the tumbling will play a big role on how both the person on top and one below are viewed and treated by stakeholders and spectators.

The truth is that Gov. Nyesom Wike 'matters' after 2023 elections as a former Gov might be a little rough and tough depending on who wins the presidency in 2023. One thing is certain, his political career is dented big time because he has proven that he will be a big trouble for any organized political set-up.

Wike is the Makelele of politics

He is doing the dirty jobs in the midfield of politics

A former LG Chairman of the richest LGA in Nigeria

A former Chief of Staff

A former Minister

A former two term governor

Mr. Writer what have you achieved before in life apart from writing rubbish for gratification

HenryThegreat1:
NYESOM Wike, the maverick Rivers State governor, is a toxic influence on Nigerian politics. Like all narcissists, he thrives on applause and adulation from sycophants and praise singers. His outsized presence in Nigerian politics is fuelled by the oxygen of publicity he constantly receives from the media even for his most infantile behaviour.

But after next month’s presidential election, whatever the outcome, and after he leaves office as governor on May 29, Wike would gradually fade into political irrelevance and eventually end up in the “dustbin of history”. It would be a good riddance! 
If those words are harsh, well, it’s because they should be. Public life is too important to be the property of narcissists, of self-aggrandising megalomaniac, who see everything through the prism of self-promotion. Politics, democracy and the party system that underpins them must never be so personalised that any individual is too powerful and above party discipline.
In a system where only parties can hold political power, nothing undermines the robustness of an electoral democracy like when a major party descends into dysfunction, hijacked by self-indulgent rebels. 

By forming a renegade ‘party’, so-called G5, within a party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and by working actively for the defeat of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in next month’s election, Wike engages in extraordinary anti-party activity and subverts the party system that is the foundation of electoral democracy in Nigeria.
Even worse, he’s doing so not for any unimpeachable moral principle but for pure self-interest and vindictiveness. The G5, comprising the PDP’s five rogue governors, who behave like Wike’s bag-carriers, calls itself Integrity Group. But it absolutely lacks integrity.
Why? Because the G5 members’ actions contradict the principles they claim to be fighting for, the principles that give them such a moral high ground that they feel justified to go for the jugular, working single-mindedly to make sure their supposed party loses next month’s presidential election. It’s unprecedented!
Unprecedented? What about the PDP’s G5 of 2015? Well, the G5 of 2015 worked against President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election, but they did so honourably. They left the PDP and joined the APC, helping Muhammadu Buhari to defeat Jonathan. But Wike’s G5 wants to stay in the PDP and campaign against its presidential candidate.
Think about it. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, a G5 member, who is seeking re-election, is saying to Oyo State’s electorate: “Re-elect me, but don’t vote for my party’s presidential candidate.” Similarly, Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, also G5 members, who are running for the Senate, are telling voters in their senatorial districts: “Elect me as PDP senator, but don’t vote for my party’s presidential candidate.”

The utter absurdity of these propositions is self-evident, as is the brazen breach of party discipline. An aggrieved politician can either fight his cause within a party or leave. But to stay in a party and openly support an opposition candidate is a no-no! A recent University of California study found that card-carrying Americans may disagree with their own party but won’t help an opposing one!
This played out recently in the US Congress. A core of 20 Republican members of Congress opposed Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Republican, as Speaker of the House of Representatives. They rejected him in 14 rounds of voting. The Republicans have 222 members as against the Democrats’ 212.
Given that only 218 votes are needed to elect the Speaker, just six Republicans could have voted for the Democrats’ candidate, Hakeem Jeffries, to become the Speaker. But none did. Despite their visceral opposition to McCarthy, none of the 20 Republican rebels wanted a Democrat as Speaker. Rather, after rejecting McCarthy in 14 rounds of voting, they elected him in the 15th round.
Party discipline prevailed. But Wike’s G5 would not only vote against their party’s presidential candidate, but they’re also asking Nigerians to reject him. Yet, as I said, they are doing so with absolutely no integrity because their actions contradict the principles they’re purportedly defending. 
Take the presidency. They argue that on grounds of equity, justice and fairness, another Northerner should not succeed President Buhari. I agree. But based on those principles, where should power go in the South: South-West (eight years as president, eight as vice-president since 1999) or South-South (five years as president, three as vice-president since 1999) or South-East (nil since 1999)? So, why did Wike want to be PDP’s presidential candidate? Why didn’t he, on grounds of equity, justice and fairness, support a South-East candidate?

Recently, when Bola Tinubu led South-West APC leaders to Pa Rueben Fasoranti’s Akure home to solicit his endorsement, Governor Makinde sent his deputy to tell the group: “Although we don’t belong to the same party, we belong to the same race. I will do what Yoruba elders say.” So, on grounds of ethnicity, Makinde favours Tinubu over his own party’s candidate.
Indeed, Wike and most other G5 members also favour Tinubu. But do they think Tinubu’s candidacy is defensible on grounds of equity, justice and fairness? Are they blind to his exclusionist Muslim-Muslim ticket and the ethnic and religious tensions his presidency would engender, not to mention his acute character and integrity deficits? They are enemies of Nigeria!
Wike says his umbrage is against Iyorchia Ayu, PDP’s national chairman, who refuses to honour his vow to resign if a Northerner emerged as PDP’s presidential candidate. Fair enough. But what about Wike’s own vow. At the PDP’s presidential primary election in May last year, Wike said: “Let me vow today. Anyone who emerges here, I will support the person to the fullest.”
What about that vow? There are two Wikes. One angrily sprouts grievances and proclaims his victimhood. The other sees politics as performance art and provides a rolling circus of political entertainment. Well, there’s a third: a deeply vengeful man who’s working day and night against his party’s presidential candidate. Whatever the outcome next month, he’ll be a footnote in history. His toxicity is bad for politics! 


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/01/2023-wike-is-heading-for-the-dustbin-of-history/

Who give this article a space in Vanguard? if you don't know Wike's national political career has just started, Atkiu win or not will not alter the journey that has just began. Kindly fasten your seat belt, because its going to be a fun ride all the way

gare:
Who this article a space in Vanguard? if you don't know Wike's national political career has just started, Atkiu win or not will not alter the journey that has just began. Kindly fasten your seat belt, because its going to be a fun ride all the way

wike is finished already

If you haven't fought all your life, you would think Wike is finished. Weak men are the only ones thinking Wike is finished.
Strong men knows that Wike will be a force to roll with.

Wike loss.. … he’s has limited himself to senate.. any politcal ambition outside that is dead. that’s the politcal future.

Wike lacks integrity. He knew its the turn of the East as far as zoning is concerned but because he wants to contest, orchestrated the throwing open of the ticket across Nigeria thinking he can spend his way to get the ticket. That singular action gave way for Atiku to become eligible as far as party is concerned.

Isn't it shocking that after the southern governors said power must come to South, Wike led PDP to throw it open just to cheat SE!

The chicken has come home to roost

EFCC awaits Wike!

Wike betrayed Southern Nigeria by allowing the PDP ticket to be thrown open because he wanted to cheat the East. He was beaten to his own game. Obi saw his nonsense and left them

SocialJustice:
Wike has left his permanent mark. When Okowa the snitch sold South South presidency for VP slot, Wike stood up and opposed it.

Wike is made for life. He can choose to retire like Odilli.

DMerciful:
EFCC awaits Wike!

Wike betrayed Souther Nigeria by allowing the PDP ticket to be thrown open because he wanted to cheat the East. He was beaten to his own game. Obi saw his nonsense and left them

Make PDP carry their load go. Good thing Peter Obi is available. Greedy politicians.

Men are remember by what dey did, good or bad.

StrongandMighty:
Personally I think wike is gradually losing his steam..

His steam was the obidients,but once he started romancing tinubu he became a villian.

He lost the love of the people, how can wike romance Muslim Muslim ticket, while shouting equity.

He is a deceit.

DMerciful:
Wike lacks integrity. He knew its the turn of the East as far as zoning is concerned but because he wants to contest, orchestrated the throwing open of the ticket across Nigeria thinking he can spend his way to get the ticket. That singular action gave way for Atiku to become eligible as far as party is concerned.

Isn't it shocking that after the southern governors said power must come to South, Wike led PDP to throw it open just to cheat SE!

The chicken has come home to roost

Which turn of SEast?? Which law said Nigeria should be run turn by turn?? Or you want to be silly this afternoon.

If its not turn by turn, why are we doing zoning?

jamesversion:
Which turn of SEast?? Which law said Nigeria should be run turn by turn?? Or you want to be silly this afternoon.

Wike lacks integrity

DMerciful:
If its not turn by turn, why are we doing zoning?

Who is we?? How many states in the SEast are controlled by PDP?... Only 2.

How many states in SS is controlled by PDP?... 4.

So going by arithmetic, the most loyal PDP states are the SS states, chiefly Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwaibom.

Igbos should revive APGA and make it have national appeal.

jamesversion:
Who is we?? How many states in the SEast are controlled by PDP?... Only 2.

How many states in SS is controlled by PDP?... 4.

So going by arithmetic, the most loyal PDP states are the SS states, chiefly Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwaibom.

Igbos should revive APGA and make it have national appeal.

How many states in the north east is controlled by PDP let's go with that

Atiku is not smart the easiest way to handle this wike issue is simple

Ayu writes resignation letter dated 15th of march 2023 it is accepted by the party and published such that he can't go back on it

Wike would have no option than to consider ...you don't negotiate with a man from high ground especially a man who as no ambition ...all the G5 governors really have zero ambition reason they are difficult to handle

Have you traveled oiut of Nigeria before, you'd know how primitive you are. I'm Igbo from SS, let that sink in

jamesversion:
Who is we?? How many states in the SEast are controlled by PDP?... Only 2.

How many states in SS is controlled by PDP?... 4.

So going by arithmetic, the most loyal PDP states are the SS states, chiefly Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwaibom.

Igbos should revive APGA and make it have national appeal.

SocialJustice:
Wike has left his permanent mark. When Okowa the snitch sold South South presidency for VP slot, Wike stood up and opposed it.

Wike is made for life. He can choose to retire like Odilli.

if u watch he speeches.he has always said those forming fmr govs forum are jobless.he will not be a part of that.Exactly like Odili he will retire after office.same way fayose did.

richidinho:
Wike is the Makelele of politics

He is doing the dirty jobs in the midfield of politics

A former LG Chairman of the richest LGA in Nigeria

A former Chief of Staff

A former Minister

A former two term governor

Mr. Writer what have you achieved before in life apart from writing rubbish for gratification

exactly o I don’t know what pll want him to achieve again in this life.

jamesversion:
Who is we?? How many states in the SEast are controlled by PDP?... Only 2.

How many states in SS is controlled by PDP?... 4.

So going by arithmetic, the most loyal PDP states are the SS states, chiefly Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwaibom.

Igbos should revive APGA and make it have national appeal.

oh u have wisdom in u.God bless u.thier mumu Obi left apga to be running under LP.

Wile tun ma lule piii Lekan siii

Deltafirstson:
No reasonable person should support wike action.
The guy is doing too much. You be in association and same time working against it.
Honorable man will just leave.

tah when atiku and dem saraki formed new pdp did heaven fall ? He has lost those states. Period.

highchief1:
if u watch he speeches.he has always said those forming fmr govs forum are jobless.he will not be a part of that.Exactly like Odili he will retire after office.same way fayose did.

The man is accomplished. When God carries you to a level you never expected to touch in life, be grateful and exit gracefully. Unlike emi lokan that despite rising to be the most successful politician of the last 22 years feels he must be president to the detriment of the nation.