…His comments put Atiku on edge — Source
…Explains why party can’t sanction Wike for anti-party activities
…Ex-VP still open to reconciliation
…Our crisis will be resolved soon—Olafeso
Uneasy calm seems to be pervading the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following what party leaders described as mixed signals emanating from Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, over the crisis in the party.
Vanguard gathered yesterday that party leaders are at sea on how to approach the situation after a series of breaches of a gentleman’s agreement between the camps of the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Wike, asking them to desist from making inflammatory remarks.
Both Atiku and Wike have been in a frosty relationship over moves to oust the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, and the aftermath of PDP presidential primary.
Though a reconciliation committee was set up by the two leaders, the committee is yet to reach a consensus on ways out of the impasse.
This came on a day former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, asked Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to swallow their ambition and return to the PDP.
However, Governor Wike, yesterday, urged Makarfi to stop bad-mouthing him and be focused on ensuring he delivers victory in Kaduna for the PDP in next year’s elections.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the PDP in Edo State, has urged the party chairman to, as a matter of urgency, call a meeting of all PDP governors to fashion a way out of the feud between Atiku and the governor of Rivers State.
We can’t bend over backwards for him — Atiku’s loyalists
Some loyalists of the former Vice President, who spoke with Vanguard, faulted comments being made by the governor, saying they appeared deliberately skewed to keep everyone guessing.
The leaders are of the view that Atiku should call the bluff of the Rivers governor by “cutting our losses, move on and concentrate on building the party ahead of the 2023 elections.”
A party leader, who pleaded anonymity out of respect for the agreement, said: “It is heart-wrenching that this matter has dragged this long.
“It was agreed the last time that all parties desist from further making inflammatory remarks.
“It was borne out of this that Atiku caused a statement to be issued by his media team urging his supporters to bridle their tongues but this act of goodwill is not being returned in kind. This is quite unfortunate.
“I must say at this point that Governor Wike has made up his mind about what he wants to do. Bending over backwards to accede to everything he has asked for will be shooting ourselves in the foot.
“Personally, I rather we cut our losses, move on and concentrate on building the party ahead of the 2023 elections.
“We just made significant inroads in Kano with the defection of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and his teeming supporters. These are the kinds of things we should be celebrating.”
Another party source said: “My reading of the situation is that there are other local issues in Rivers politics that are being elevated to the national.
“Comments being made by the governor, with due respect to him, appear deliberately skewed to keep everyone guessing. The truth is we cannot wait forever, something has to give.
“The truth is that whichever decision you take in politics, not everyone will be happy or accept it for one reason or another. Our presidential candidate has demonstrated good faith.
“However, it will be disastrous for anyone to contemplate a leadership change at this time, the issue of anyone removing Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman before the election does not arise.”
Wike’s comments put Atiku on edge
Another PDP leader, who spoke to Vanguard in confidence, said Wike’s recent comments are putting the former vice president on edge, which is not going down well with the latter’s loyalists.
The source, a former member of the National Working Committee, NWC, said: “Wike is giving them (Atiku’s camp) signs that he will work against him. Wike is getting feelers that some interests around Atiku do not want the PDP presidential candidate to give in to his demands.
“Wike also has some people within Atiku’s camp, especially in the NWC. The anger with the Atiku camp is that Wike cannot be seen to be controlling the party. Also, Wike is expecting Atiku to give him an update on what was discussed at their London meeting but Atiku is yet to call him. That is why you hear Wike making those comments.”
Why party can’t sanction Wike
Asked whether the party will wield the big stick against the Rivers governor for alleged anti-party activities, the source said: “The party cannot sanction him. It will get to a point where Wike will pull out of the party or act as a spoiler.
“If he acts as a spoiler, the party will have no grounds to sanction him for anti-party activities and if the party decides to expel him, it is looking for more trouble because some of his loyalists will resist the move.
He still has loyalists in the NWC and he may use the same approach he used for Uche Secondus by inducing them to resign and pass a vote of no confidence on Ayu. Wike needs only two or three NWC members to pass a vote of no confidence on Ayu. He can destabilize the party.”
Ex-VP still open to reconciliation
On whether or not Atiku is still disposed to reconciling with Wike, the source said: “Atiku wants to reconcile with Wike but he is in a dilemma and Atiku’s dilemma is that Ayu was one of those who helped him win the ticket.
“Atiku wants to reorganize the party but Ayu and his loyalists are resisting the move, insisting that the former Vice President must protect and stand for them. He is confused. He knows what Wike can do and he doesn’t want to lose Wike but the interests around him want him to damn Wike.”
Our crisis’ll be resolved soon —Olafeso
Expressing optimism over the fortunes of the party, a former Vice Chairman (South West) of the PDP, Dr Eddy Olafeso said the crisis rocking the party would be over soon.
Olafeso said: “There is no war in the PDP, it is alignment and realignment and communication that is still in progress. I don’t think our party has any crisis, the majority of the people are on the same page. Our concern at this moment is the state of the Nigerian nation and the possibility of providing answers to all the myriads of problems that are facing Nigeria.
There is ongoing communication and that communication will be concluded. However it is, there is no place in the whole world where you don’t have such disagreements but we have an internal mechanism to resolve that. At the appointed time, it will be resolved.”
(Vanguard)
