- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed his conversation with the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, over the leadership crisis in the party.
Wike made the disclosure during his address at Anyanwu’s 60th birthday celebration and presentation of a book titled, “Sam Daddy in my Eyes” in Abuja on Sunday.
As quoted in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Sunday, the minister described Anyanwu as “a man of strong character and integrity”.
While showering praises on the PDP National Secretary, Wike stressed that what makes a man “is his character and not how much money he has or the food he provides.
“If you don’t have character, go to hell with your food”.
He said he had always told people to try and show where they stand as he recalled advising Anyanwu to stand firm on the PDP’s Secretary’s crisis because some people were not straightforward.
“They are going right; they are going left; they are going front and they are going backwards.
“What they say in the morning, what they say in the afternoon, is not what they will say in the night.
“So I warned Anyanwu, if you know you will not stand firm, say it now. I also asked him, are you sure you can stand this fight?
“A fight where virtually everybody, including governors are fighting you will not be easy, but if you stand firm you will win.
“However, if you begin to go left and right, not only will you lose, you will suffer and he assured me that he will stand firm,” he said.
The minister, who said he likes people who are consistent in life, praised Anyanwu for being consistent saying, “you have shown me, with what had just happened recently, that you are a man that will stand by his words”.
He assured the PDP scribe of his continued support saying, “My friends and I congratulate you on your 60th birthday and for your victory as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP.
“I am happy with the crowd I am seeing here. It shows you’re a man of the people.
“Let me assure you, for people like us, we will stand with you and we will continue to be with you. It doesn’t matter what the people will say”.
He told Anyanwu to walk with his head high, having emerged victorious from the long tussle over the secretary’s position of the party.
Wike advised the PDP scribe to maintain his integrity and not to succumb to any pressure from people who do not wish him and the party well.
According to him, nobody fights and wins a war and beg people for attention.
“You have won; the people concerned should come and talk to you and not invite you, no, tell them, you, come to me.
“You have people like me, so don’t be afraid; I am here. We have done it before; we will do it again.
“Some people will not be happy; I am happy,” he said.
Wike equally commended former Senate President Bukola Saraki for attesting to Anyanwu’s steadfastness as a man of his words.
“Anyanwu’s mother called me the other day and said ‘my son, I am happy that people like you will take decisions, stand firm and swear not to be disgraced.
“This is what we are talking about people of character. You don’t buy it in the market,” Wike said.