The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal over his alleged reference to him as “that guy”, claiming that the governor could not withstand him politically while they were both in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike made the remarks during a media parley on Tuesday, where he recalled the political differences between himself and Lawal before the governor left the opposition party.
The minister claimed that Lawal had considerable financial resources but was unable to challenge him politically within the PDP.
“Ask the governor of Zamfara State. When he was in the PDP, I chased him away. He had money, but they couldn’t withstand me,” Wike said.
He also alleged that Lawal left the PDP with money he had reportedly been keeping on behalf of another person, although he did not provide further details about the claim in the remarks provided.
Wike described Lawal’s subsequent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as contradictory to the governor’s earlier criticism that he was working against the PDP to benefit the ruling party.
“He had money plus other money I heard he was keeping for somebody. Ask him, he ran away from the PDP,” the minister said.
Wike added: “And I did him a favour. He now came to the APC. Meanwhile, this was one of the governors who said I was killing the PDP for the APC. The same person now ran to the APC.”
The minister’s comments highlight the political disagreements between the two politicians over the PDP and the movement of party members to the APC. The allegations about the money and the circumstances surrounding Lawal’s departure from the PDP were claims made by Wike in his remarks.
