Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), found himself at the center of a firestorm on Sunday as his latest foray into Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) factionalism drew sharp rebukes from critics, social media users, and concerned Abuja residents. The event, a high-profile Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting hosted at Wike’s official Life Camp residence, has ignited accusations of abusing taxpayer-funded resources for personal political maneuvering, with many urging President Bola Tinubu to rein in his embattled appointee.

The gathering, attended by PDP suspended members like Wike, former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PDP Acting National Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed, and other allies, was billed as a step toward “restoration, reconciliation, and renewal” within the opposition party. Factional BoT Chairman Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, appointed just last month in a similar meeting at the same venue, pledged unwavering support for the National Working Committee (NWC) to stabilize PDP structures ahead of state congresses and a national convention. “We are going to work with this NWC to ensure that the right things are done,” Ohuabunwa declared, emphasizing efforts to install caretaker committees in crisis-hit states and rebuild trust.

But Wike’s rhetoric stole the spotlight and not in a flattering way. In a viral clip from the session, the former Rivers State governor positioned himself as PDP’s self-appointed guardian, declaring Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde “like a younger brother to me” and vowing, “I will not allow those we accepted into the PDP to destroy the party.” The remark, delivered amid applause from his faction’s National Executive Committee (NEC), quickly unraveled into a meme-fest on X (formerly Twitter), where users pilloried Wike for the blatant factual error: Both men were born in December 1967, making them exact contemporaries, unless, that is, Wike’s Nigerian political age is considered.

“Seyi and Wike are age mates same way he called Fayose his younger brother too,” quipped @InteriorsYinks, capturing the widespread derision. Others were less amused. “How is Seyi Makinde your younger brother, Mr. Minister Wike???” demanded @itsMay0wa, while @oloyediamond50 urged, “Someone should tell him he is no longer a member of PDP.” The posts, amassing thousands of views and hundreds of likes within hours, painted Wike as a hypocritical “clown” straddling PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party he helped deliver Rivers State to in 2023 before becoming Tinubu’s FCT minister.

Beyond the personal jabs, the choice of venue amplified the outrage. Hosting the partisan BoT conclave at his government-provided residence, complete with security, utilities, and logistics funded by FCT taxpayers, has prompted accusations of ethical lapses. Abuja residents and civil society voices are demanding clarity: Why commandeer official spaces for what critics call “toxic politics” that undermine Wike’s ministerial mandate?

“This is the second time in a month they’ve turned the minister’s house into a PDP war room,” fumed one anonymous FCT civil servant in a widely shared X thread. “If Wike wants to play these G5 games or factional chess, he should hire a venue like every other politician. We’re paying taxes for roads and schools, not his PDP drama.” The sentiment echoes broader frustrations with Wike’s dual role: As FCT boss, he’s spearheaded high-profile infrastructure projects, but his persistent meddling in PDP affairs, despite public APC endorsements, has fueled perceptions of divided loyalties.

Online, the chorus is deafening. “Wike will never cease to amaze me, which party is he actually in? APCPDP?” tweeted @Beemax01, while @Frayo0077 blasted, “It’s annoying to hear this man vomiting nonsense. You are destroying PDP for APC and you are still saying this nonsense.” @bolaji_xy likened Wike to “a girl that doesn’t have anything to do with you but she doesn’t want you to go,” accusing him of sabotaging PDP while clinging to its label. Even allies-turned-critics piled on: @dr_prognosis mocked, “This one is fighting for the structure he assured Tinubu. Wike’s first mistake is believing that Tinubu will work with him twice as a rogue.”

The FCDA angle, while not directly tied to Sunday’s event, stems from lingering complaints about Wike’s alleged repurposing of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) facilities for political rallies and meetings earlier this year. Sources close to the ministry say similar “eleventh-hour” bookings have become routine, prompting quiet grumbles among staff. “It’s not just the residence; he’s blurred the lines everywhere,” one insider told reporters off-record. “Taxpayers deserve better than funding his power plays.”

As the PDP schism deepens, with Wike’s camp pushing for congresses in “affected states” like Rivers and Oyo, the pressure is turning toward the presidency. Prominent voices, including PDP governors and civil rights advocates, are imploring Tinubu to intervene. “The President appointed Wike to build Abuja, not to burn down the opposition from within his living room,” said a PDP chieftain from the South-South, speaking anonymously. “If he can’t separate ministry from mischief, relieve him.”

On X, the demand is explicit: “President, call this man to order before he drags your administration into his mess,” posted @Rahmonade15, referencing Wike’s infamous G5 governors’ pact with Tinubu. @DbPragmatic warned of Wike’s endgame: “Wike’s goal is to ensure PDP do not have Presidential candidate in 2027 and he has more or less achieved that.” With PDP’s legitimate National Working Committee mired in court battles over its composition, Wike’s maneuvers risk prolonging the chaos.

Wike’s camp dismissed the backlash as “noise from sore losers.” In a statement post-meeting, Ohuabunwa reiterated the faction’s “moral responsibility” to guide PDP away from “divisive tendencies,” insisting the gathering was about unity, not division. Yet, as one X user summed it up @SimoncoleB: “Wike is just making noise with his half a dozen factions of PDP. He got outsmarted by Makinde.”

For FCT residents footing the bill, the patience is wearing thin. As one taxpayer vented: “Hire a venue, Mr. Minister. Play your politics on your dime, not ours.” Whether Tinubu heeds the call remains to be seen, but in Nigeria’s fractious political arena, Wike’s balancing act is teetering ever closer to a fall.

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