Segun Sowunmi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), blames President Bola Tinubu for the crisis in the opposition party due to the unconsulted appointment of Nyesom Wike as the FCT minister. Sowunmi rejects claims of PDP’s collapse and criticizes APC’s undermining tactics.
Segun Sowunmi, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has placed blame on President Bola Tinubu for the ongoing leadership crisis within the opposition party. Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today, Sowunmi criticized Tinubu for appointing Nyesom Wike, a PDP member, as the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) without consulting the party leadership. Sowunmi emphasized that the move was detrimental to the PDP, deepening existing internal divisions.
According to Sowunmi, while some may attribute the PDP's struggles to Wike’s actions, he believes that Tinubu's decision to take Wike from the party and place him in a significant government position is at the root of the discord. "He has no business appointing our member into his cabinet without talking to us," Sowunmi stated, adding that this move complicated the situation within the opposition.
Sowunmi further drew comparisons with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s approach when forming a government of national unity, saying that Obasanjo sought consultations with opposition parties before making such appointments. He suggested that the only way for PDP to heal would be for Tinubu to reverse Wike’s appointment, though he acknowledged that this was unlikely to happen.
Despite the tensions within the party, Sowunmi rejected claims that the PDP was on the brink of collapse. He pointed to the party's resilience through past challenges and emphasized its continued role as a constructive opposition party. Regarding the ongoing dispute over the PDP’s chairmanship, Sowunmi stated the party was awaiting a court ruling to determine its next steps.
Sowunmi also criticized the APC’s past tactics, claiming that their actions of undermining the country’s image were immature compared to the PDP’s more responsible approach.
