PDP Crisis: I Will Smoke You Out, Wike Threatens Obaseki

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to smoke out his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, and his cohorts from the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

Trouble started between the two governors after the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, featured on a live television programme where he lamented the alienation of those that defected with them from the APC to the PDP.

Aftermath the TV programme, Wike blasted Shaibu and his boss Obaseki for what he described as threatening the PDP.

Obaseki, while reacting to the scathing attack against his Deputy, Phillip Shaibu by Governor Wike, had slammed the Rivers Governor, describing him as a bully.

The Edo Governor had complained that members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo was not happy and do not feel accepted into the new party.

Obaseki, in a statement on Monday also noted that Nigeria needed strong democratic institutions and not strong men, adding that the main opposition party needs to position itself to reclaim power in 2023.

But Wike, in his counter-reaction, said the Edo State Governor was only ranting, saying governance was about feeling and touching, and not a memorandum of understanding.

According to Wike, Obaseki do not come close to him in terms of achievements, disclosing that while in Edo State for the 2020 governorship election, he did not take his bath for three days, for reasons he did not explain.

Wike highlighted his contribution to the efforts that led to Obaseki’s re-election, having served as the Director-General (DG) of his campaign organization in 2020.

“I am not in the class of Obaseki, never! We are not the same, we can’t be the same. I was the DG of his campaign, I went there (to Edo) for three days. I stayed there without having my bath. I have never seen somebody like that in my life – a serial betrayer.

“Let me tell you Obaseki, I know your cohorts and I will smoke all of you out. This is not the Benin artifact that you were challenging the Oba (of Benin), this is politics.

“Obaseki, I have more stake in PDP than you. I have fought for this party, mention one thing that you have done for the PDP.”