Atiku returns to Nigeria as PDP crisis persists

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has returned to Nigeria.

Daily Trust on Tuesday reported how the former vice president left the country hours after he met Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

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There were reports that the PDP candidate left the country to seek medical attention, but Paul Ibe, his spokesman, denied this, saying Atiku went on a business trip.

In the past few days, a couple of events have been threatening the peace within PDP, especially the stance of Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp that is demanding the resignation of Senator Iyioricha Ayu as the party chairman.

While Atiku was abroad, Wike endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Lagos counterpart, an action seen as a blow to the party, which has fielded Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor.

“If Sanwo-Olu is not doing (well), even if he belongs to my party, I will not come here,” Wike said. “If you belong to my party and you are not doing well in governance, you won’t see me. If you don’t belong to my party and you are doing well, you will see me. Good governance is what I stand for. I will not regret to say that I am in support of you (Sanwo-Olu) for second term. Others should not waste their time.

“Look at the kind of project coming from this women’s group. Why would any reasonable person not support the Government that is encouraging this. Let’s also look at the kind of physical infrastructure being delivered in Lagos. This confirms Lagos as a State of excellence. There are some people who will come here; instead of them to continue to make Lagos improve, they will bring Lagos down. For me, I’m satisfied with what Sanwo-Olu has done and it doesn’t matter the party he belongs.”

Sanwo-Olu responded to Wike’s endorsement, describing it as another example of “politics without bitterness”.

He said Lagos and Rivers states had learnt from each other in terms of projects and development, adding that both states would continue to cooperate on shared interest.