Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has offered a glimpse into his staunch support for Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking at Anyanwu’s 60th birthday celebration in Abuja over the weekend, Wike lauded the PDP National Secretary as a man of strong character and integrity.
In remarks reported by Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, he urged Anyanwu to avoid seeking reconciliation with his political adversaries.
Instead, he advised, “If they want anything, they should be the ones looking for him.”
The birthday event also featured the presentation of a book titled “Sam Daddy In My Eyes.”
Wike recounted advising Anyanwu to maintain a firm stance during the PDP’s leadership struggles, particularly concerning the National Secretary’s position.
He described a volatile period where some party members exhibited inconsistency, changing their positions frequently.
“I warned him, if you know you will not stand firm, say it now,” Wike stated, recalling his question to Anyanwu: “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.”
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Wike praised Anyanwu for his consistency, affirming, “you have shown me, with what had just happened recently, that you are a man that will stand by his words.”
Congratulating Anyanwu on his birthday and ‘victory as the substantive National Secretary of the PDP’, Wike expressed satisfaction with the turnout at the event, which he described as a testament to Anyanwu being ‘a man of the people.’
He pledged his continued support, stating, “Let me assure you, for people like us, we will stand with you; we will continue to be with you. It doesn’t matter what some people would say.”
Emphasising Anyanwu’s newfound position of strength, Wike asserted, ‘Nobody fights a war, wins the war and begs. You have won, the people concerned should come and talk to you and not invite you.’
He added in Pidgin English, ‘When e dey pain them, e de sweet us, as e dey sweet us e de pain them’, implying satisfaction in the discomfort of their opponents.
Wike underscored that a person’s character, rather than wealth or generosity, defines them, a sentiment echoed by former Senate President Bukola Saraki regarding Anyanwu’s steadfastness.
He shared an anecdote of Anyanwu’s mother expressing pride in her son’s principled stand, reinforcing the value of character.
