The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, urging him to remain steadfast and focused in his political course.
The BoT members, who visited Wike at his Abuja residence on Tuesday evening, said the party remains proud of his commitment and performance.
The delegation was in Wike’s home to condole with him over the passing of the PDP National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih.
The team was led by BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, and included Senator Zainab Kure, former Minister of Sports, Hon. Damishi Sango, BoT Secretary, Isah Dansidi, and other members.
Speaking with journalists after the closed-door meeting, Ohuabunwa described Orbih’s death as shocking and painful to the party.
“These are a select few members of the Board of Trustees. The BoT has over 100 members, but due to time constraints, we picked those within the FCT. We ensured all geopolitical zones were represented,” he said.
“We came for two major reasons. First, to condole with our national leader, Barr. Nyesom Wike, over the demise of a pillar of our party, a very consistent member, Chief Dan Orbih, who was a member of the BoT and National Vice Chairman, South-South. The news of his death was shocking and painful to us.”
He added that Orbih was a close associate and political ally of Wike.
“We also came to solidarize with him, to encourage him to remain focused. Everything he has been saying about the party is nothing but the truth. When he was offered this appointment, he wrote to the party at all levels and the party unanimously agreed that he should go and represent us. As the conscience and compass of this party, we are very proud of him — proud of him as a person, proud of his performance, proud of his capacity,” Ohuabunwa stated.
In his response, Wike thanked the BoT for the visit and reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, stressing that he would remain in the party and work for its revival.
He described Orbih’s death as an irreparable loss, recalling the crucial role the late party chieftain played in his emergence as Rivers State governor in 2015.
“God used Dan Orbih to make me governor. He was Chairman of PDP in Edo State at that time and there was a crisis in Rivers PDP. He stood by the truth and that’s how I became governor. It’s unfortunate that he died and there is nothing we can do about it,” Wike said.
“I thank you for coming to identify with me. The loss is also your loss because he was part of you.”
On politics ahead of 2027, Wike restated his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, while urging PDP members to concentrate on other contests.
“After supporting President Tinubu in 2023, it will be wrong for me to support another person against him when he is seeking re-election, and I have made this clear. But that should not stop the PDP from contesting elections at the sub-national levels,” the FCT Minister said.
