By Lateef Ibrahim
Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT, and National Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barr Nyesom Wike has told leaders and chieftains of the party that they must henceforth bring something to the table, reminding them that the ‘era of food is ready’ politics is gone.
Wike similarly took a jibe at the Dr. Tanimu Turaki led Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the party, saying that by Friday (tomorrow, June 26), when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be giving access codes to political parties to upload the names of their candidates, the reality will dawn of those on the other side of the PDP.
The FCT Minister spoke on Wednesday at the opening of 109th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party held at the Wadata House headquarter in Abuja.
At the meeting, during which certificates of returns were issued to the party’s gubernatorial candidates for the next year’s elections, Wike made it clear that every member of the party must work and deliver results.
At the well attended NEC meeting, the PDP National Leader said, “Let me say one thing today, that should be clear to everybody. Most of you are people are used to food is ready. Yes, because you are not used to fight, you don’t fight. You are not used to challenges. You are used to people preparing something for you, come and eat.
“And you think it will always be like that? It cannot always be like that.
“Time will come when there will be challenges in life. Time will come when you will be tempted in life. I happen to come from where I’ve never gotten nothing on a platter of gold.
“When I don’t see challenges, I know that something is wrong, but when I see challenges, I know success has come.
“So most of you always used to come and take when PDP was in power, like spoiled children, every day, depending on what their father has provided. It appears your father is sick now, nobody to provide, you think that the whole world has ended.
“If you take the challenge that your father is sick and say no, I will not disappoint my father. I will work hard to survive. I likened it to the situation when the PDP was in power.
“We are no longer in power. You have people who are now in power. Nobody gives power. Nobody has done it. Power is taking, if you did not do so, it’s your business.
“You must fight for it to take it. Nobody gives power, and nobody is ready to dash you power. You have to struggle for it. You have to fight for it. You don’t have to be afraid.
“Every time you complain, oh, the governor is this, the governor is that, what do you want him to do? To allow you to come and take power tonight? If you’re not serious, say you are not serious to struggle for power, when you take it, you appreciate it, not when they dash you, you don’t know the meaning of it.
“So, I’m praying for all of you, particularly those who want to run for governorship. If you are waiting for somebody you want to take away from power from, let him not say anything, prepare yourself. That’s what it is.
“I was a governor. I saw a fight from a federal might. You don’t have to run away. Organize yourself, you have to fight more than you fought.
“Go and bring something. If they want to kill you, die and leave this thing you are looking for.
“I will bring something to table here. NEC member has to bring something. If you bring House of Representatives, you have done something. If you bring Assembly member, you have done something. But don’t come here, this is not a place of empty hand.
“This is a place that you come, we look at the results of what you sent, that is what politics is all about”, he said.
Speaking on the other group within the PDP, Wike said, “As far as I am concerned, June 26 is when they will give access code to political parties to upload results. Don’t worry we are good to go. Nobody is afraid we will see who INEC will give the code.
