…Atiku intensifies effort at damage control
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi and Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike as well as three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, on Wednesday, held a strategic meeting in London, raising concerns over what to expect in the coming days.
The governors at the meeting were: Sam Ortom (Benue); Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
The London meeting also attracted former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke and Senator Olaka Nwogu.
Although details of the meeting were sketchy on Thursday night, observers however believe that it may not be unconnected with realignment of political interests ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Since after the PDP primary election, Wike has been at verbal war with the camp of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku won the primary election, while Wike came second. But, Atiku picked Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate for the 2023 election, a development that irked the Wike camp.
The three PDP governors and Duke belong to the Wike’s camp, which has demanded the removal of the party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu among others as a condition to back Atiku in 2023.
Meanwhile, in what might be an attempt to save a bad situation, Atiku Abubakar has called on party stakeholders to desist from making statements that capable of threatening and compromising ongoing reconciliation talks in the party.
Atiku sent a strong message to party stakeholders after meeting with Wike in London on Thursday, admonishing them to eschew comments and actions that could jeopardize efforts at achieving reconciliation of the aggrieved members.
His Media Adviser Paul Ibe, disclosed through a statement that Atiku Abubakar “called on all stakeholders of the PDP and his supporters to desist forthwith from making statements that are capable of compromising the on-going work towards further strengthening the party and bringing all its leaders together.
“It has become imperative to appeal to all party members, leaders and everyone related to, connected with or associated with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar to desist from making comments that potentially reduce the optics of PDP’s image as a united political party.
“This appeal becomes necessary in order to call the attention of party leaders and members to the diversionary antics of the ruling All Progressives Congress which, in manufacturing a false impression of division within the PDP, aims to hoodwink the Nigerian public to overlook the monumental failures of the ruling party.
“Today, Nigerians look up to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the charge in ousting the ruling party. This expectation from the people is the reason why the APC is jittery of their impending fall in next year’s general election. It is also the very reason why the ruling party is manipulating the political process to create a sense of division in the PDP.
“Because they know that there is nothing to campaign with from their records of performance in office, the APC has elected to play the role of the devil’s advocate, regaling in celebration of their imaginary invincibility upon a fraudulent claim that the PDP is divided.
“It is for this reason that appeal to every true member of the PDP and anyone who truly wishes the success of the PDP presidential candidate to not fall for the antics of the APC in making statements that could give credence to the false claim of divisions in the PDP.
“All the leaders of the party, including especially the governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Wike and all governors of the PDP are united in working for the victory of the PDP in next year’s general election across board.
“What is at stake in the next year’s election is the future of Nigeria and all leaders and members of the PDP are on the same page in the mission to rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of the APC.”
In furtherance of his efforts at pacifying Wike, Atiku Abubakar also reached out to the Rivers State governor in London.
Their discussion was not made public.
The meeting between the PDP chieftains follows months of attempts to reconcile both parties.
Others present at the meeting include Governors Seyi Makinde(Oyo) Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).