By Innonews
The debate over Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s close political association with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, continues to draw reactions across the political space.
Critics have argued that Anyanwu, who is the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP , should distance himself from Wike on account of his position in the federal cabinet under the ruling All Progressives Congress ,APC.
However, a careful reading of the political situation shows that Anyanwu, popularly known as “Sam Daddy,” has done no wrong.
At the core of the criticism is the argument that by escorting Wike to public functions, Anyanwu undermines his role in the PDP. Yet, this position ignores one fundamental truth. Nyesom Wike has not left the PDP. Despite holding a ministerial portfolio in President Bola Tinubu’s APC-led administration, Wike remains a card-carrying member of the PDP, a party that gave him the platform to rise to national prominence.
As long as Wike is still a PDP member, Anyanwu’s association with him cannot amount to political betrayal or sacrilege. Rather, it reflects loyalty and continuity in friendship that has spanned several decades. To demand otherwise would be to deny the reality of Nigeria’s complex political landscape, where allegiances cut across government and opposition lines.
For Anyanwu, accompanying Wike to official or political functions is neither strange nor misplaced. The PDP National Secretary could equally extend such courtesies to any PDP governor or prominent party leader. His presence at Wike’s side should therefore not be construed as evidence of compromise, but as an affirmation of friendship and party solidarity.
Critics miss the point when they insist that Anyanwu’s closeness to Wike means he wants to cross over to the APC. That would only be the case if Wike himself formally abandons the PDP for the ruling party. Until then, Anyanwu cannot be accused of fraternizing with the opposition, because technically, Wike still flies the PDP banner, even as he works within an APC administration.
The relationship between Anyanwu and Wike is not one that began yesterday. Both men share a long history dating back years ago. At a time when Anyanwu was chairman of Ikeduru Local Government Area in Imo State, Wike was his counterpart in Obi -Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. They were both active members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, where they forged a bond that has endured to this day.
It is, therefore, unsurprising that their friendship has stood the test of time, surviving the storms of national politics. To expect Anyanwu to suddenly sever ties with Wike because of the ministerial appointment would be both unrealistic and a betrayal of personal loyalty. Politics may divide, but it does not have to end friendships.
Indeed, it would be sheer hypocrisy to pretend that political friendships should only exist within rigid partisan boundaries. Nigeria’s democracy is replete with instances of cross-party friendships that have proven instrumental in building bridges and resolving conflicts. Anyanwu’s closeness to Wike must be viewed through this lens of political pragmatism.
Those who demand that Sam Daddy antagonize Wike simply because of his current ministerial role misjudge the essence of political relationships. Real friends do not quarrel or abandon one another because of shifting political winds. Instead, they maintain mutual respect while navigating the demands of public office.
Ultimately, Senator Samuel Anyanwu’s loyalty to Nyesom Wike should be seen as an asset rather than a liability. It reflects a broader understanding of politics as a game of relationships, not permanent enmity.
Unless and until Wike formally leaves the PDP, Sam Daddy remains on the right side of the divide, and his political credibility remains intact.
It is, therefore, unsurprising that their friendship has stood the test of time, surviving the storms of national politics. To expect Anyanwu to suddenly sever ties with Wike because of the ministerial appointment would be both unrealistic and a betrayal of personal loyalty. Politics may divide, but it does not have to end friendships.
