The face-off between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has been a source of concern in the party.
The crisis started after Atiku, a former vice president, defeated Wike and others in the PDP primary election.
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The crisis worsened after Atiku picked Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate against the advice of the majority of the party’s committee who canvassed for Wike.
While the disagreement in the party lingered, a committee constituted by Atiku and Wike opened discussions. The committee met at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Some party members, especially those from Wike’s camp, had called for the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu. But Ayu rebuffed the calls, saying he was elected for a tenure of four years and was ready to serve it out.
Daily Trust takes a look at the major events that played out during the crisis.
Atiku’s interview
In an interview with Arise TV, Atiku made a snide remark, saying he did not reject Wike but only picked someone (Okowa) he could work with amicably.
Atiku said he chose a running mate who could “deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country”.
He said, “Governor Wike was not rejected. Nobody was rejected in the party. But you must understand that it’s the prerogative of the candidate to pick his running mate, a running mate he believes he can work with amicably, and then also deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country.
“Governor Wike is a brilliant politician. He’s courageous, tenacious. I believe he has a future in the political evolution of this country. It’s not a question of rejection. Certainly, not. I think it’s too harsh a word to say that we rejected Governor Wike. Certainly not.”
Wike’s outburst
Wike had seized several occasions to express his grouse with Atiku and the party; speak of his political clout in Rivers and the fate of PDP in the presidential election if he was undermined.
During the inauguration of the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Wike said those around Atiku might cost him the election.
He said, “All these rent seekers around him (Atiku) are not doing him any favour. Rather they are trying to make him not to win election. But if that is what they wish, I wish them good luck.
“You see that I am not talking. I am doing my work, so leave me to do my work. Those concocting ideas everyday, social media cannot make you win election. Election is about the people and by the people. Those in Abuja with you (Atiku), tell them to go home and campaign for you to win election. Leave Wike alone, enough is enough.”
Ortom’s support for Wike
In an interview with Arise TV on June 29, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State said Wike would have been Atiku’s best running mate.
He said, “…Some of us believe that he (Wike) has the capacity and the charisma to lead this country from bottom to top. Since this current administration came, we have been taken from top to bottom.
“We said it in our meeting that it doesn’t matter whether he supported the presidential candidate or not, that all we were looking at is the unity of this country and how we can make this work. But unfortunately, it was said that it is Governor Okowa, who is also a PDP member. That is the wisdom of the presidential candidate.
“…I am now really confused because I’ve said that Wike would have been the best vice presidential candidate after losing the presidency. He was the second person (first runner up) to Atiku, and has the charisma.”
Sule Lamido takes a swipe at Wike
Commenting on the rift, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, said people were only listening to Wike because of his position as a governor and not based on his personality.
According to him, Wike will become a political ‘destitute’ in eight months when his tenure as governor would run out.
Lamido said the people of Rivers State have always been supporting PDP, adding that the party would win with or without Wike.
He said, “Right now, if you go to Rivers, there were 13 governorship aspirants for the governorship candidate in Rivers State, it was Wike who imposed the current candidate. The others are there complaining and screaming.
“I saw him on TV talking the other day, he was very bombastic. He was saying that he would not allow this and that. In the next eight months, he will become a political destitute like me.”
Melaye’s stance on Wike-Atiku crisis
Dino Melaye, a former Senator representing Kogi West, during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today recently said either Wike or anyone else would not be allowed to destroy the PDP.
He said, “Democracy is noisy and at times disagreement; but that disagreement doesn’t mean that now we are going to pull down the roof. Governor Wike will not pull down the roof of PDP; he will not do that.”
London meetings
A series of meetings Wike had in London last week appeared to be the climax of the crisis. It started on Tuesday with a meeting between Wike and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was trying to woo the former to work for the APC’s victory in the forthcoming presidential election.
Two days after, former President Olusegun Obasanjo met with Wike alongside the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, Ortom, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
Wike’s team also met with Atiku in London shortly after a meeting with Obasanjo.
Commenting on the meetings after his return to Nigeria, Wike Obasanjo, explained that topmost on the agenda of the discussions was how to make Nigeria better than what is it currently, adding that the consultation was not over.
He said, “I can confirm that this is the first time as a team that we are meeting with presidential candidates. We met with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC and we met with our leader, former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.
“We met the presidential candidate of Labour Party. We also met with our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. For whatever it’s worth, consultation is ongoing. Whatever we are talking about is for the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It is not parochial and tied to one person or group of persons. We believe that with what is going on, it will be for the interest of Nigerians at the end of the day.
“Consultation is still ongoing. Never mind some people who do not believe in the existence of this country. Leadership is not about you and your family. Leadership is about everybody. It’s unfortunate that we are in a country now where a man finishes eight years as a governor and brings his own son as a governor too and as member of National Assembly.
“It’s only in this part of the world that you can see that, when we are talking about poverty everywhere. These are people who do not mean well for Nigeria.”
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