The noise by Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom all over the media for the past few days, which has become increasingly loud, shows that indeed, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has taken control of some PDP governors.
They all started with the noise for the resignation or sacking of Ayu as the national chairman of the PDP. But, events and time have shown that their aim transcends the clamour for equity and inclusion, which they started with.
- Flood displaced 90% of traditional rulers in our state – Bayelsa monarchs
- 13 people burnt to death in Kano auto crash
It can be said that Wike, Ortom and others who are supporting them in this divisive war against the PDP are agents of destabilisation. Their agenda is to malign the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and ensure that missiles are thrown at him to de-market him among Nigerians.
The recent outburst by Ortom, where he was quoted to have said “To hell with Atiku, anyone supporting him is my enemy,” as well as vowing not to support a Fulani man to become president, is uncalled for. It is outright hate speech and labelling.
It needs no restating that there is no criminality in being a Fulani. Atiku Abubakar, just like every other person, is a Nigerian, and he has declared that at this point in our polity, we do not need a tribal president to address the numerous issues we are confronted with as a people.
And, if Ortom is serious about his declaration of not supporting a Fulani for president, why then is he in PDP? Is it not better for him to decamp? But he, just like some others have sworn to, wants to remain in the party and destabilise it ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.
Though, he (Wike) might want to play the kind of magic Tinubu played in 2011; when the latter worked against the candidature of his party’s flagbearer, Nuhu Ribadu, by supporting Jonathan’s re-election.
But, this cannot be done without spending the funds of Rivers State people on a cause that won’t be beneficial to them in any way.
It is still fresh in our memories how it was only Aregbesola that refused to ditch Ribadu in the 2011 presidential election, despite the fact that Tinubu didn’t.
Also, Wike can choose not to support Atiku as much as he likes, but this expedition of intensifying crisis in the party is totally uncalled for.
In fact, I also lend my voice to the agitation of the Rivers State Democracy Sustainable Group (RSDSG) that Wike should openly declare to Rivers people and Nigerians at large where he is getting the money he is using to sustain the crisis in the PDP, which has allowed him to pocket a number of governors.
His numerous donations of recent, call for checking and a need for accountability as far as Rivers State funds are concerned.
Rather than concentrate on promoting the candidacy of the EFCC-wanted gubernatorial candidate Wike forced on the party’s members in Rivers State, over a N435bn fraud, as far as campaign is concerned, he has been busy throwing tantrums at the PDP presidential candidate just to divert the people’s attention from his misdoings in Rivers.
Wike is simply being hypocritical about the issue of fairness. First, his predecessor, Chibuike Amaechi, is his Ikwerre kinsman, but Wike still went ahead to contest the governorship to the detriment of other parts of the state.
Also, his imposed governorship candidate in the state, Fubara, is from the same senatorial zone as the state’s PDP chairman, Ambassador Akawor.
So, isn’t it surprising that he (Wike) is clamouring that Ayu must step down because he is from the north like Atiku?
Kazeem Olalekan Israel (GANI) writes from Ibadan
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