, Nyesom Wike.){kind=link}
Chief Bode George, the Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has strongly criticized recent remarks made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
George labeled Wike’s comments as both ungrateful and shortsighted, accusing him of failing to acknowledge the PDP’s pivotal role in shaping his political trajectory.
The controversy began when Wike, during a media interaction on Monday, dismissed suggestions that the PDP had been instrumental in his rise to prominence.
This response came after George had earlier commented on the sealing of the PDP National Secretariat by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over unpaid ground rent, attributing Wike’s stature and national relevance to the platform the PDP provided him.
In the media parley, Wike had retorted, “I read what he said. If an old man has no job, sit down in your house and read newspapers. Bode George said PDP made me, gave me a national name. I agree. But party cannot make you. You are the one that will make the party popular to win elections. Party cannot say we are popular; it is individuals that make the party known.”
He continued, “Yes, PDP made me. But ask Bode George who PDP has made in Lagos since 1999—no one. No House of Assembly member, no House of Reps, no Senate seat—nothing! Meanwhile, I campaigned and worked hard to build the party into a formidable force both in my state and nationally.”
Reacting during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, Bode George expressed his disappointment, describing Wike’s remarks as “a disgusting abomination.”
He added that it was beneath his dignity to engage in a public exchange with someone significantly younger, stating, “The young man is the same age as my first son. It would be an infradignitata for me to lower myself to respond directly to such comments. Many respected Nigerians have urged me to refrain from replying.”
George, however, made it clear that his focus remains on the strength and future of the PDP. “I am more concerned about our party—rebuilding it, uniting it, and presenting it as the best alternative to Nigerians amidst the challenges we all face,” he said.
Reflecting on the fleeting nature of power and fame, George invoked a famous line from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, stating: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.” He urged Wike to reflect on this perspective, noting the impermanence of political power and public influence.
In highlighting Wike’s rise through the ranks of the PDP, George pointed out the foundational role the party played in Wike’s career—from local political positions to his eventual governorship of Rivers State and now his ministerial role.
He questioned Wike’s claims about individual influence in politics: “My young man, when you go to vote, do you see individuals’ names on the ballot papers? It is the party’s name and symbol that carry weight.”
George also clarified that he does not possess the power to expel Wike from the party, emphasizing that the PDP is governed by collective principles and not dominated by any one person. “Our party is not like the APC, which is widely seen as being under the control of a single individual. The PDP was built on structure, rules, and democratic values. No one owns this party.”
George urged party members and the general public to remain focused on the PDP’s broader mission rather than on personal conflicts, reiterating the need for maturity, gratitude, and respect in political discourse.