, has responded to recent criticisms leveled against him by Chief Bode George){kind=link}
Bode George said the PDP made me; it gave me a national name. I agree. But ask Bode George—who in Lagos has the PDP made? If indeed parties make politicians, why has the PDP failed to produce a single popular figure in Lagos since 1999?
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to recent criticisms leveled against him by Chief Bode George, a prominent elder statesman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The controversy stems from Wike’s involvement in the sealing of the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, an action that has drawn sharp condemnation from Chief George.
Last week, the elder statesman described the move as a betrayal of the party, labeling it not only disrespectful but also sacrilegious and culturally indefensible.
“In regards to the locking up of our Party Secretariat, it is absolutely sacrilegious, unacceptable, and culturally inadmissible,” George stated. “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Wike—this is the party that brought you to life.”
In response during a media briefing on Monday, Wike dismissed George’s accusations and challenged the notion that political parties are solely responsible for shaping the careers of politicians.
He acknowledged that the PDP had given him national exposure but emphasized that it is individuals who contribute to a party’s success, not the other way around.
“Bode George said the PDP made me; it gave me a national name. I agree,” Wike remarked. “But the party itself does not make people; rather, it is individuals who make the party popular enough to win elections. A party does not become popular by itself—it is the effort of individuals within it.”
Wike further questioned George’s argument by pointing to the PDP’s history in Lagos State. He challenged the elder statesman to name a prominent political figure produced by the PDP in Lagos since 1999.
“Let’s look at it from this perspective: I acknowledge that the PDP played a role in my rise,” Wike said. “But ask Bode George—who in Lagos has the PDP made? If indeed parties make politicians, why has the PDP failed to produce a single popular figure in Lagos since 1999?”
He went on to highlight the PDP’s lack of representation in key legislative bodies from Lagos, citing the absence of elected PDP members in the National Assembly from the state.
“Since 1999, the PDP in Lagos has not produced one senator, one member of the House of Representatives, or even one assembly member,” Wike argued. “Meanwhile, I have worked tirelessly to keep the party strong and relevant both at the state and national levels. My loyalty and contributions should not be questioned.”
By drawing on his own political track record and pointing out PDP’s shortcomings in Lagos, Wike aimed to reinforce his stance that individual efforts, not party affiliation alone, determine political success and party popularity.