Wike and Atiku
Barring any last minute hitch, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate will soon meet Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Governor in a roundtable peaceful resolution of the rift between the duo, an aftermath of the party’s recent presidential primary election.
Efforts towards this reconciliatory move are now reaching a conclusive stage to appease Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Governor and other aggrieved members in order to settle the rift now creating divisions within the party before it festered further.
In the last three days, leaders and stakeholders of the party have been meeting on how best to resolve the issues arising from Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate’s rejection of Nyesom Wike as the PDP 2023 vice presidential candidate preferring instead Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
PDP has been embroiled in crisis since the emergence of Okowa as Atiku’s running mate as the choice over Wike did not go down well with the later’s supporters.
Consequently, Wike as well as Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Seyi Makinde of Oyo and their loyalists have stayed away from PDP functions.
The crisis is festering by the day as some party stakeholders, it was gathered, have started calling for a replacement of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, alleging his bias imprimatur in the processes leading to the emergence of the party’s presidential candidate and his running mate.
However, Ayu, through his spokesman, Simon Imobo-Tswam, has consistently denied the allegation.
Meanwhile a source close to the party noted that barring any last minute change, Atiku will soon meet with the Rivers State governor any moment from now.
According to the source, the Benue State governor is the intermediary between the duo.
“Ortom is acting as the go-between Atiku and Wike. And Wike is ready to talk with the party candidate. Things are no longer as bad as people think. It was very bad at the beginning. Because Atiku was behaving as if he has gotten the presidency already. But things are being sorted out. Hopefully, soon all the issues will be resolved”, the source confirmed.
When contacted, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, confirmed that efforts to resolve all the issues in the party were in top gear.
