By Adakole Elijah
Last Tuesday, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike descended into a spectacle of political brinkmanship that should alarm every Nigerian who values constitutional order.
With unrestrained bravado, he threatened to visit draconian retribution upon banks that dare to serve the Makinde faction of the People’s Democratic Party, and to demolish any edifice sheltering them in the FCT.
This is not leadership. It is the language of a despot masquerading as a public servant. To interpret the Supreme Court’s ruling with partisan sleight-of-hand, then weaponize state power against political opponents, is to mock the very rule of law.
The Apex Court was clear: the administration of the PDP resides with the Board of Trustees, a decision that squarely favours the Makinde group.
Why should a minister fulminate against lawful banking transactions? Why should he threaten to raze buildings over intra-party disagreements? Such pronouncements are barbaric, anachronistic, and antithetical to a civilized democracy. They belong to an era of strongmen, not to a republic of laws and institutions.
If Minister Wike truly believes his faction holds the mandate of the Court, let him prove it through the ballot, not through intimidation. Let his group sell nomination forms openly and allow the electoral umpire to determine legitimacy. Nigerians have witnessed party cleavages before. Never have we seen a public officer resort to such brazen coercion.
The Makinde faction has rightly dismissed these threats as hollow posturing. They have appointed a caretaker committee in line with the Supreme Court’s directive and vowed to proceed. They should not blink.
Today, the PDP stands in a labyrinth of uncertainty. To seek office on its platform now is to walk a minefield. But if we allow threats and intimidation to dictate our politics, the minefield will soon consume the entire republic.
Nigeria deserves better than despotism disguised as decisiveness.
