2023: Wike’s plot against Atiku thickens

By Ori Martins

Again, the high expectations of a proposed meeting between the two warring camps in the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) to resolve the impasse was apparently dashed weekend as the outcome failed to bring the different groups any closer.

Reports from the meeting, which held in Port Harcourt on Friday did not produce any positive result, with the two parties sticking to their guns. One of the thorny issues is the resignation of the national chairman, Dr. iyorchia Ayu. Gov. Fintiri of Adamawa state, while former governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko, led the Atiku and Wike camps respectively.

Obviously not pleased with the way and manner he was treated by the leadership of the PDP, and particularly, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, is allegedly making surreptitious moves to undermine the election of Abubakar to ensure that a southerner emerges as president in 2023.

This may involve key stakeholders in the south and part of the north central, though still in the party, work for a southern candidate in the election. Two of the other major candidates are Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of APC, and Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party.

Before the primary, Wike had hosted one of the meetings of Southern Governors’ forum, which vowed to ensure that power moved back to the south in keeping with the rotation principle of the party, and pursuant to the demand of justice and equity after the north had been in charge for eight years, when President Buhari leaves.

The chairman of the SGF, and governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu, had last week, insisted that a southern president in 2023 is non-negotiable and any one candidates, who emerges will be acceptable to him. Sources hinted that this is the new game plan of Wike and his group in the PDP.

Recently, Wike had hosted meetings with APC leaders, as well as Mr. Obi, and the invitation of Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to commission some projects in the state, set not a few tongues wagging on the ultimate objective.

Investigations conducted by Business Hallmark revealed that Wike seems to have convinced himself that the Iyorchia Ayu-led PDP “is playing poker with him and the south”, so said a source very close to Wike. This might have been the sole reason the Rivers state governor has yet to agree to terms with the Atiku group despite several peace talks in the past.

After the PDP presidential nomination election where Wike lost to Atiku, and following the failure of the latter to be named by the former as his running mate, indications were high that the Rivers State governor could called dump the party.

However, Wike was reportedly quoted to have said he and his group would never leave PDP for Atiku.

“I made a vow to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that I will support whoever emerges from the PDP presidential primary election. And I am not going to go back on my word.

”We cannot abandon the PDP, we will be fully supporting Atiku Abubakar.”

Wike said in a statement posted on Facebook and Twitter after the PDP presidential primary election. But that was then, a statement made at the heat of emotion arising from political betrayal. Times seems to have changed.

Pundits interpret Wike’s statement as an outburst revealing his long term goal, but being brutally reviewed to suit emerging situation. His supporters have already given the party a red light of what to expect if the remained uncooperative and recalcitrant to their demands.

According to an account, “As a matter of principle, those of us from Rivers State, I am not sure we want to speak on it for now. But the truth is that anywhere he (Wike) goes, Rivers people will follow him. Rivers people will follow him but I will not want to come out to say that now until when everything is settled”, a lawmaker who was interviewed stated.

Solomon Bob said “Without Wike, PDP would have been long gone. He maintained that at a time when all other party leaders chose to keep quiet in the face of crackdown on the PDP opposition elements, it was only Wike that stood against the opponent’s plots.

He made it clear that his governor’s voice was heard across the country, using his energy and resources to sustain the party.

“Those who are making claims now to the man’s labour, where were they? Where was Atiku? Atiku ran away. In 2015, he ditched the party and went to the APC because he did not want (the then President Goodluck) Jonathan to continue (with a second term in the PDP).

“He wanted to pitch his tent with his northern brother (Muhammadu Buhari of the APC). In 2019, before he came to run (for president in the PDP), he was in Dubai. After he lost (the election), he went to Dubai again.

“Only one man was left with the job and responsibility of rebuilding (the PDP) again and fighting for the unity and cohesion of the party, and that is Wike. Without Wike, there will be no PDP, I can tell you that,” he ended.

On what Solomon described as Atiku’s blunder’s he said, “Let me tell you: they have scored an own goal; Atiku has scored an own goal. It will be hard for him. Atiku is in a difficult situation.

“As they say in English, he is in over his head. Atiku is in over his head. He is fickle. The biggest asset the PDP has is Wike. Nobody in the PDP has the energy and the dynamism. You discarded your biggest asset, how can you win?”

Apparently, this rhetorical question by the lawmaker is the single most likely pointer that Wike is actually planning for a New-PDP strategy.

In recent times, Wike has been having a series of closed doors meeting with virtually every member of PDP who is not in agreement with Atiku, and the roll call included but not limited to Governors Sam Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

Others are former state governors like Donald Duke (Cross River), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ibrahim Idris (Kogi) and Jonah Jang (Plateau).

Not long ago Wike consulted with former PDP Deputy National Vice Chairman North, Senator Suleiman Nazif; former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Adoke; member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State, Tijjani Yusuf, various coordinators of his presidential campaign led by former Information minister Jerry Gana.

Almost in all the meetings, the pressmen were never told what was discussed or not discussed, leaving speculations to rule the air.

After one of such meetings, Gana, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees and North Central Coordinator of the Wike Presidential campaign, who spoke to journalists was not elaborate as he said:

“This is the first meeting we are holding with all our candidates in the states after the primaries. We are united and are one. We know that developments will unfold and when they do, we shall brief Nigerians.”

Apparently sensing danger and unable to decipher Wike next political move, PDP leaders concluded arrangements to enter into a fresh meeting with the Rivers governor. An informed and reliable report has it that Atiku’s and Wike’s were directed by the Board of Trustees (BoT) to meet and sort out their differences.

A meeting of the national working committee, NWC, the highest decision making organ of the party, scheduled on August 10, was suddenly postponed without reason. But insiders claimed that there was a plan to oust Ayu as chairman by the Wike Group.

Chairman of the BoT, Sen. Walid Jibrin lamented that the party ought to be concentrating on how to win all positions to be contested and adhere to the provision of the party constitution.

Just before the meeting of last week, there was a meeting between Atiku and Wike two weeks ago at the Abuja residence of former information minister of PDP founding member, Prof. Jerry Gana where they agreed to set up committees of equal number to sort out whatever were the causes of misunderstanding between both men.

Each of the camp agreed to a seven-member committee to deliberate on the matter. Adamawa State governor, Ahmad Fintiri headed the Atiku team, while former minister of Justice Adoke was on the side of Wike.

Yet, the crisis still lingers thereby fuelling the suspicion that Wike is really plotting for a new PDP. It may be a repeat for the party, which may survive after another eight years out of power.

According to a commentator, “A new-PDP may not actually be a party with structure but where he can stay in the party and still work to elect his successor in Rivers and at the same time work against PDP at the presidential election”.

Among other demands, Wike’s camp is wants the resignation of the PDP national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, a power sharing formula and commitment that Atiku would serve for one term.

Among PDP leaders who have called on Atiku and Wike to sheath their swords are former national vice chairman of PDP, South West, Chief Bode George and a former presidential aspirant, Sam Ohuabunwa. Both have also urged Ayu to resign.

In spite this, the publicity secretary of PDP, E. Meregini, was still optimistic that the party would get it right.

“Take it from me. Yes, there is issue within the party. But I can tell you that our elders and leaders are on it. We will soon get over it and we shall overcome”.

In the same view, the legal officer of the party in Imo, Barrister Kessinger Ikoku, noted that the current crisis rocking the party of the centre was not a good omen but still agreed that it was not new to PDP. He enthused that PDP understands how to handle internal party matters, insisting Atiku and Wike would soon reconcile.

However, the APC image maker in the state Comrade Duke Cajetan Akuta laughed off and said, “PDP is in deep sh..t. We wish them well”.