By Ikenna Nwobi
ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed complaints by the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the conduct of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying the ruling party has no moral right to cry foul after willingly embracing him for political gain in Rivers State.
The opposition party maintained that Wike is no longer a member of the PDP, stressing that the APC knowingly engaged him and must therefore bear the full political consequences of that choice.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, reacted to the public spat between Wike and the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, over developments in Rivers State.
Ememobong said the APC National Secretary might be relying on outdated information by associating Wike with the PDP, noting that the former Rivers governor and his supporters had long been expelled from the party.
“The APC cannot pretend ignorance now. Wike is no longer a PDP member. He was expelled, along with his supporters.
The APC engaged him knowingly and enthusiastically, and that is why we sympathise with the problem they have brought upon themselves,” he said.
According to the PDP spokesman, the ruling party lacks both moral and legal standing to disown someone it had previously celebrated and benefited from.
“The law is clear: you cannot benefit from a wrong you created and later complain about it. You cannot cry over an injury you willingly inflicted on yourself. What was once celebrated as an asset has now become a liability, and the APC must manage it,” Ememobong added.
He rejected attempts to drag the PDP into the controversy, pointing out that the same conduct now being criticised was applauded when it appeared to advance APC interests.
“The behaviour they are complaining about today is the same behaviour they celebrated yesterday. When it suited the APC, there was jubilation and laughter. The same National Secretary did not raise any objection then,” he said.
Ememobong also said issues of political conduct should be addressed beyond partisan sentiments, insisting that wrongdoing must be called out regardless of who is involved.
“As a citizen and as the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, if someone engages in anti-party activities or aligns with another party, I will call it out plainly. You either leave that party and join another openly, or remain independent and state your position clearly,” he said.
He concluded that whatever political advantages arose from Wike’s actions accrued solely to the APC and that the ruling party must now contend with the consequences.
“What the APC is facing is a voluntary injury. They fed the monster because it suited them at the time. Now that the monster has become inconvenient, they must deal with it. Those who keep feeding a monster should not be surprised when one day they end up in its belly,” he added.
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