The political camp of Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta State, has reacted angrily to the alleged promise reportedly made by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to support Governor Nyesom Wike for the 2027 presidency.
There have been unconfirmed reports that Atiku Abubakar, during a meeting Wike on Thursday, promised to back the Rivers State governor to vie for the presidency in 2027.
But Okowa’s camp, in their reaction to the report, described the promise to support Wike’s presidency as unrealistic.
Further report on the issue quoted an unnamed PDP House of Representatives member from Delta State as saying that Governor Okowa is not moved by the report.
He said that Atiku also made the same promise to Okowa when he unveiled him as his running mate at the PDP National Headquarters in Abuja.
The lawmaker further stated that Atiku had said Okowa will be suitable for president after him.
He said Atiku considered some criteria like Okowa’s rich experience and political trajectory, which positioned him well to become president after his (Atiku’s) tenure.
The legislator said if Atiku wins in 2023, not only will he know Okowa’s qualities, but the entire country will know it too.
The lawmaker reportedly said: “He already has the qualities from the local government level to the State, National Assembly and now going to the Federal level. So, who else can compete with him after Atiku?”
The lawmaker reportedly added that Atiku, in choosing Okowa, held wide consultations with various stakeholders within the party, including governors, members of the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees and other leaders to seek their input and their wisdom, but not in the case of Wike in this new promise.
He said the Delta State governor will never be part of the negotiation, not because of presidential ambition, but because he would not want to be mentioned as a betrayer again.
He suggested that Okowa would even prefer to play along in order not to scuttle the olive branch being extended to Wike.
“While I can read the body language of my leader, he cannot be distracted about such a thing. He is a perfect politician that knows the game. You don’t give what you don’t have. Can only one person make someone a president in a country like Nigeria? We know Wike in and out. Wike wouldn’t take such promise serious considering that he has already drawn a battle line.”