A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George, has expressed deep disappointment over the sealing of the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) due to unpaid ground rent.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today, aired on Channels Television on Tuesday, George condemned the action, especially as it was carried out under the supervision of Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister and a fellow PDP member. He described the situation as painful and culturally insensitive, given Wike’s long-standing affiliation and political rise through the PDP.
The secretariat was sealed on Monday alongside other properties—both public and private—affected by the enforcement of ground rent defaulters. The FCTA had earlier revoked titles of 4,794 properties in Abuja for failing to pay rent ranging from 10 to 43 years. After the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, a 14-day grace period was granted for defaulters to settle their debts and associated penalties.
George lamented that the PDP owed ₦7 million in ground rent, a sum he believes Wike could have easily settled on behalf of the party to demonstrate loyalty.
“What is ₦7 million?” George asked rhetorically. “If he [Wike] was truly loyal, he should have just paid it from his pocket and presented the receipt to the party. That’s what you expect from a true son of the house. This is the house that made him who he is.”
He further highlighted Wike’s political journey within the PDP, pointing out that he began as a local government chairman under the party, served as Chief of Staff, was appointed Minister of State for Education by a PDP president, and later became the Governor of Rivers State for eight years on the party’s platform.
George described Wike as his political son and questioned the timing of the sealing, which coincided with a scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Additionally, he argued that the PDP was not the only party owing ground rent. “Check the APC secretariat. They owe millions too. So why was the PDP singled out?” he questioned.
Despite his criticisms, George admitted that the PDP made a mistake by failing to meet its financial obligations but maintained that such lapses are bound to happen in political organizations, which comprise various individuals with differing levels of responsibility and commitment.
“When you’re running a political organization, you’ll find the good, the bad, and the ugly. Mistakes are inevitable,” he concluded.
