Former Vice President of Nigeria and leader of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has turned his back on a prominent leader in the party who is currently serving as minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nyeson Wike. Wike celebrated his 57th birthday on Friday, December 13.
This was even as the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, a chieftain of the APC, attended the celebration, with a book launch in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State.
Atiku, who is known to be sending birthday greetings to prominent leader in the party and outside it, went silent on Wike’s birthday, but later congratulated the new President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
However, the National Vice Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja was at the occasion, describing Wike as one of the most committed and loyal party leaders who believes in the politics of fairness, equity and justice.
This was even as the Senate President, who unveiled a 536-page book titled: “A Remembrance of the Pragmatic Footprints of a Visionary Leader,” praised Wike for his excellent performance as two term of eight years as Governor of Rivers State.
The book features pictures of the minister’s projects and achievements as governor of Rivers State. The Book was distributed to guests.
In a paper he presented, Professor Julius Ihonvbere lamented that many Nigerian leaders still thought along ethnic, religious and opportunistic terms. “There is no national philosophy, no national consciousness. We believe that during football, we all come together and support; that is something we can sleep on and after the match…”
One of the paper discussants and publisher of This Nigeria newspaper, Eric Osagie, believes that both leaders and followers are from the same stock and proceeded to extoll the virtues of the FCT Minister.
In his remarks, the celebrant, Nyesom Wike, expressed surprise at the large turn out of people. He thanked all the associates that organized the event.
He said that the day was not meant for political statements and rhetoric but for celebration.
The event also featured traditional dances from various cultural troupes, and gifts were presented to the celebrant.
