There is no gainsaying that series of reconciliatory meetings and persuasions by the concerned stakeholders with the G-5 Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the River State Governor, Nyesom Wike, comprising Engr. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on how to drop their grievances and team work with the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar ended in vain.
This fact cannot be far fetch as the Oyo State Governor who should have been the host of the presidential campaign event boycotted the rally without any reasons or apologies for doing so.
Saturday INDEPENDENT gathered that Governor Makinde, who is seeking second term in office under the PDP platform deliberately shunned the presidential candidate campaign of his political party that was held at the historical Mapo Hall Ibadan, on Thursday based on his stand with his colleagues who are members of the G-5.
Prominent dignitaries at the campaign include Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in company of his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu; chairman of the campaign council, Governor Emmanuel Udom; Director General of his campaign, Aminu Tambuwal; serving and former governors and members of the National Assembly and a host of other party members and supporters.
The G-5 Governors are seeking for fairness and equity on sharing political positions of the party. This includes and not limited to resignation of the chairman of the party Iyorcha Ayu, who, according to the aggrieved governors come from same geo political zone with the presidential candidate of the party.
PDP G-5 Governors started feud with the party’s leadership over Dr Ayu’s refusal to step down, contrary to his promise to quit if the presidential candidate was picked from his geo political zone, the North. They have insisted that Ayu’s resignation is a condition for supporting PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in next year’s election.
One of the G-5 Governors, Okezie Ikpeazu, the Abia State Governor, in his recent interview said the philosophy of the G-5 governors was beyond the 2023 general election. The Governor said the agitation for inclusiveness was aimed at strengthening fairness and mutual trust in the country.
Ikpeazu maintained that a united Nigeria would be realised if there is political, economic and social harmony.
He said, “There are issues of integrity, keeping promises, making sure that if we say ‘after me, it’s you’, when that time comes, it happens. This will stabilize us as a country and engender social mobilisation sufficient to tackle our security problems, tackle the economic problems, and tackle other problems that confront us in this country.
“G-5 speaks to a new paradigm. It is beyond 2023. It speaks about a new paradigm,” Ikpeazu said.
However, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his address at the campaign promised to restructure the country of elected into power.
He said, “The people of the South-West have been known for agitating for restructuring, and by restructuring we mean giving more powers or autonomy to the states. It is one of our five pillars in our programme to make sure that we implement restructuring, meaning that more resources and more powers will be given to you so that you can develop at your own pace in your state as well as in your local government.
“We are committed to making sure that there are no more strikes in our universities. It means that we will fund our universities, pay our teachers on time so that we don’t have any distractions to our academic activities.
“South-West is known also for business, that is why in our economic programme we are committed to making sure that the industrialisation of the south-west is achieved and will have the support of the federal government. This is part of our commitments.
“There are five major commitments that we made to the people of this country. For unity, we will make sure that there is inclusion for every part of this country. Every part of the country will be represented in our government, not like what the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is going,” Atiku said.
Other prominent PDP leaders who accompanied Atiku to Ibadan campaign are the ex-national chairman of the party; Prince Uche Secondus, Idris Wada, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Dino Melaye, Nnamadi Sambo and Sule Lamido. Others are Indidi Elumelu, Abdul Ningi, Bonie Haruna, Lyel Imoke, Yakubu Dogara and Philip Aduda.
Those who were in Ibadan to receive the party’s presidential candidate included Chief Wole Oyelese, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Prof Abiodun Raufu among others.
