One of the leaders of the main opposition party in Nigeria, Nyesom Wike is currently biting his fingers over this contribution to the emergence of the party's factional leader, Ali Modu Sheriff.
Nyesom Wike and Ali Modu Sheriff
Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, has said his support of Ali-Modu Sheriff is one of the worst political decisions he’s ever made.
Wike and Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, had backed Sheriff to emerge as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before their relationship went awry and a leadership battle began.
This degenerated into series of lawsuits that culminated in the recent affirmation of Sheriff as PDP chairman by an appeal court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Reacting to the development during an interview on Sunday Politics which aired on Channels Television, Wike said he regrets bringing Sheriff into the fold of PDP.
Wike noted that the PDP will file for a stay of execution on the appeal court’s decision, adding that afterwards, an appeal will be filed at the supreme court.
The governor said he was shocked by the ruling and maintained that Sheriff had no good intention for the opposition party.
He said, “I do believe that even in life, even as human beings, there are times for setbacks, and challenges. What has happened to us is a temporary setback.
“I will not support anything that has to do with Sheriff. I know that he doesn’t mean well for the party.
“He’s a mole in the party. His antecedents tell you that there are people behind who are not members of the party, who do not want PDP to exist.
“I’m not new in this game. Even the characters around him, they don’t augur well for the party.
“That is one of the worst political decisions I’ve ever taken. In life, when you take a decision and you realise that you made a mistake. In that decision you made, there is nothing stopping you from saying, ‘I’ve made a mistake, I think we can correct it’.
“Frankly, I have never regretted any decision I’ve taken than this decision. Politically, we have seen his conduct. It has shown that he does not mean well for the party. It will be difficult for me to work with him. That is clear. I don’t have that confidence that he can lead the party.”