The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has set up a committee to beg and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and some other aggrieved members of the party.
Information had it that the initiative was taken by Atiku on the need to go into the 2023 general elections with a united front, against the background of crisis that is rocking the party after Atiku decided to choose the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.
Governors Wike, Okowa and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom had appeared before the screening panel set up by the PDP to nominate a vice-presidential candidate to the PDP presidential flagbearer.
Okowa was nominated by the PDP presidential candidate after rumours had it that Wike had been selected by the party advisory committee as the vice-presidential candidate the day before.
But findings indicate that the PDP feared that Gov Wike might work against Atiku’s ambition following his loss as the party presidential candidate and running mate to Atiku.
Signs that the PDP might run into stormy waters became pronounced with the defection of some of Wike’s supporters from the party in the last 24 hours.
“There was an attempt to draft a man who was not interested in the vice-presidency into the vice-president; a committee set up, the caucus spoke, the national working committee of the party spoke favourably about Wike and it was not honoured.”
Nwuke further said “Atiku did what he wanted to do. So what committee is he setting up again? To do what? It doesn’t make sense.
“When the convention was over, nobody showed him the way to Wike’s house. If he wants Wike to work with him, he should walk to the Governor of Rivers State and speak with him. We don’t need committees, what will the committee do? It doesn’t make sense to me.
“I don’t know why relationships shouldn’t be exploited. What is this committee thing? You have something else in your mind, you set up a committee to do something else. What is the meaning of that?”
“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Wike had said no matter what happens he would not leave the PDP. That was what he said.
“The implication is that a man who is committed to the PDP will work for the PDP, whether you set up a committee or not. And that is my personal opinion,” Nwuke stated.
Efforts to reach the chairman of the River State PDP, Desmond Akawor, and the party’s spokesman, Sydney Gbara, proved abortive as they did not respond to calls.
Source: Up Short Report.
