ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu, has issued a strong rebuke to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over comments targeting South East leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing them as “reckless, unguarded, and misplaced.”
The dispute stems from a recent meeting of South East PDP leaders, during which they criticised the party’s national leadership for failing to resolve the prolonged crisis surrounding the position of National Secretary — a role traditionally zoned to the region.
The leaders warned that the party risked alienating the zone if the impasse continued.
Responding in an interview with BBC Pidgin, Wike dismissed the threat as hollow and singled out Egwu and former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa for ridicule, questioning their electoral relevance and alleging that neither delivered meaningful votes nor produced governors or lawmakers for the PDP in their respective states.
In a strongly worded statement released Tuesday, Egwu expressed disappointment at Wike’s remarks and questioned his understanding of internal party dynamics.
“It is in bad taste for Wike to have singled out Achike Udenwa and myself for vilification,” Egwu said.
“This attack is not only embarrassing to me, it is unwarranted.”
Egwu, who governed Ebonyi State from 1999 to 2007, reminded Wike that producing a successor was not an unusual feat and cautioned the FCT Minister against what he called “boastful effusions of a newcomer intoxicated by transient power.”
“I produced my successor in Martin Elechi. I also played a leading role in determining who succeeded Elechi. That takes influence and grassroots appeal,” he said. ‘
“That Wike did it in his state is no rocket science.”
Egwu warned that Wike’s current political strength, bolstered by proximity to the presidency, may prove short-lived.
He challenged the FCT Minister to allow the embattled Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to fully return to office and govern independently — a move he suggested would test Wike’s ability to retain political control in the future.
“Wike can boast for now about producing his successor. But he will soon burn himself out. He is living on borrowed time,” Egwu said.
“Let him allow Siminalayi Fubara to return as governor so we will see whether he will still be in a position to decide who becomes governor in Rivers State in the near future.”
Egwu also criticised Wike’s combative approach to internal party disagreements, warning that such behaviour could further fracture the PDP.
“As a political family, the PDP in the South East has the right to take a position on matters that affect it. It is not up to Wike, or anyone else, to turn that into a personal feud,” Egwu said.
“His insistence on controlling Rivers State post-tenure is the root cause of the crisis in his state.”
