Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his camp appear to have soft-pedaled on their stance following Atiku Abubakar’s vice presidential pick which generated controversy within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The party has been facing some challenges following the fallout of Atiku’s decision to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as running mate, against the recommendation of the committee set up in that regard.
The fallout could be seen by the attitude of the PDP governors, who have now taken the back seat in matters concerning the progress of the party.
Some of the governors had boycotted the inauguration of Osun State Campaign Council, a major event that will signpost the position of the party ahead the 2023 election.
The Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, had also in an Arise Television programme, gave insight into the situation in the party.
Explaining the feelings of some members, Ortom had on Wednesday, last week, in Arise Television said, “I was among the 17-member committee set up by Atiku and 14 of us in the committee said the person should be Wike.
“Unfortunately, Atiku picked Okowa; that is his wisdom. You cannot ignore decision of a committee you set up yourself and expect people to be happy.
For now, I have gone into hibernation.” Asked if he will support the candidature of PDP, Ortom didn’t give direct answer but said, “I am in hibernation. I am praying. When I finish the prayers and whatever God directs me, I will do.”
He further said: “We expect Atiku to do more but we are not seeing that.” Also asked by Arise Television that a source said that the camp of Atiku is trying to reach out to Wike but he has been ignoring their calls, the Benue State governor said, “They should stop that.
Atiku should go to him. Why won’t he ignore their calls, is that not an insult? Wike is a pillar in the party. Currently, nobody in the party has contributed more for the party to move forward than Wike.
“If Atiku was not going to honour the decision of the committee, he should have called Wike earlier and informed him. He didn’t do that. You can’t do things anyhow and expect us to be happy.”
However, speaking to Daily Independent on Tuesday, a strong supporter of Governor Wike said that unlike the report going the rounds, they are now ready for reconciliation and to move the party forward.
Faulting the report in the media that Wike’s camp will decamp to another party, the source said, “We are not going anywhere.”
Asked what is their position on Atiku’s vice presidential pick, he said, “That is part of the reconciliation.
The reconciliation committee will iron out all these grey areas. We are ready for reconciliation and will work for the victory of our party and our presidential candidate. We are now ready to send the All Progressives Congress (APC) packing”.
Meanwhile, the party has charged Nigerians to vote APC out with their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).
Describing the ruling party as insensitive, PDP noted that the APC came to power through fraud and propaganda. Speaking during a sensitisation campaign for the collection of PVCs in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, urged Nigerian youths to participate in the 2023 elections.
He said: “Against the backdrop of the fact that we have an APC government that is insensitive, that is rudderless, that completely failed this country, they lied to us in 2015, came to power by fraud and propaganda.
“As the party of the people that believes in the sanctity of life and our children’s future, and where they can achieve their goals and live a life where they can aspire to be anything in Nigeria.
“So we are urging all youth and women to come out en mass to pick up their PVCs and those who have not registered to take advantage of the window now available by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to come out and register.”
Assuring the electorate that their votes will count in 2023, Ologunagba said, “We have seen how APC has destroyed the country, get your PVC and vote them out.”
The National Youth Leader, Mohammed Suleiman, who joined Ologunagba and the National Woman Leader, Prof. Stella Effa-Attoe, to lead the sensitisation campaign, said, “We have seen what is happening in the country, the rate of unemployment, insecurity, students are at home for over five months and the economy is messed up. So we believe those comments you’re seeing on social media will turn to vote come 2023.
“We have 36 state youth leaders, we have six zonal leaders, we’re all working together to mobilise Nigerians so that they can vote for the PDP come 2023.”
In a related development, the former vice president and presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general elections, Atiku has appointed three additional aides into his media team.
In a statement by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku gave the names of the three appointees as Eta Uso, Abdulrasheed Shehu and Demola Olanrewaju. According to the statement, their appointments take immediate effect. (Daily Independent)
