Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has stated that the collective decision and subsequent actions of the G5 governors were crucial in averting a national crisis after the 2023 general election.
Leading up to the last election, the G5, a powerful bloc of five incumbent governors with Wike at its helm, famously withheld support for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of their party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group comprised Wike himself, along with governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Their core contention revolved around the PDP’s zoning arrangements, as they vehemently insisted that the 2023 presidential ticket should have been zoned to the South, rather than going to Atiku, a Northerner.
This internal rift significantly undermined the PDP’s campaign, as Wike and his G5 colleagues openly campaigned against their own party, throwing their weight behind Bola Tinubu, the Southern candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
Speaking to a gathering of ‘Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP’ from across the federation on Monday, Wike argued that the G5’s defiant stance in 2023 ultimately saved Nigeria from potential turmoil.
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He conveyed the group’s unwavering conviction, asserting they have no regrets, even though their actions indirectly benefited an opposing party’s candidate.
“Whether you favour us or not, the reality is, without the G5’s intervention, this country would have plunged into crisis,” Wike declared.
“The identity of the beneficiary was secondary; upholding what was right was paramount, and we remain resolute in that decision.”
Wike emphasised the necessity of respecting both the party’s and the nation’s constitutions, lamenting, “Had the party heeded our counsel, we would not be facing our current challenges.”
He implored PDP leaders to cease acting with impunity, advocating for unity and reconciliation within the party.
“Let us not allow personal greed or ego to lead to our party’s demise,” he cautioned while expressing confidence in the PDP’s ability to overcome its present difficulties.
The meeting saw the attendance of several prominent PDP figures, including former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, and Okezie Ikpeazu, as well as PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu and former Senate Minority Leader Senator Philip Aduda.
