G5, northern Christians hobble Atiku, Tinubu’s ambitions 

By Ori Martins

 The uncompromising and relentless opposition of the G-5 and northern Christians are currently nightmares to the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as well as the presidential standard bearer of the APC, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu. 

The G5 is the body of the five governors, who are opposed to the continued stay in office,  of  the PDP chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu. The group is also, for now, not on the same page with Atiku’s presidential ambition for his support for Ayu’s continued stay.

Anchoring its leadership and strength in the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, the other governors in the G5 include governors Sam Ortom of Benue State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State as well as Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

In its moves against PDP, the G5 had on several occasions threatened it would neither campaign for nor support Atiku’s presidential bid unless Ayu resigns as the chairman of the party.

“Our struggle against PDP and Atiku is not an ego trip as some paid agents have been peddling in rumours.

“We, the five PDP governors are fighting for justice, equity and fairness. PDP does not belong to any region, zone, religion or person. The PDP as a party belongs to all of us irrespective of our tribe, faith or geo political zone. We want justice to be done.

“A situation where the presidential candidate of PDP is from the north and the national chairman of the party also hails from the north is not healthy and it is unjust. Therefore, we are saying that Ayu should step down for us to support PDP and Atiku in the 2023 presidential election”, Wike noted in one of his numerous interviews.

The G5 seems to be enjoying the sympathy and support of the electorate, particularly from the south. In a phone conversation, a trade union leader in Owerri, popularly known as Uche Nwosu, said the Wike group is really paying PDP and Atiku in thier own coin.

“No matter how you look at it, the PDP five governors are paying the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku, in thier own coin. If the matter is not resolved, take it from me that the umbrella party may still continue playing its opposition role at the centre.

“Do not forget that this was exactly a part of the reason former President Jonathan and PDP lost the presidential election in 2015. I think history is repeating itself. PDP may not return to power if it doesn’t reconcile its differences with Wike and his band of five governors”.

However, a member of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of PDP,  former governor of Enugu State,  Dr. Okwesillieze Nwodo, countered Wike’s claim’s and submitted that the PDP could not afford the resignation or otherwise of its national chairman given the 2023 general elections were almost at hand.

He observed that PDP, when it was in power, at a time had both a presidential candidate and national chairman from the north. Nwodo pointed out that even in the present dispensation, both the presidential candidate and national chairman of LP were from south. He still observed that the APC national chairman  as well as the  serving president are of northern extractions.

In spite of Nwodo’s explanations Wike and his Group of Five Governors still insist on the resignation of Ayo if they will support Atiku and PDP in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.

Yet, Nwodo’s explanations did not go down well with many Nigerians, particularly the Igbo ethnic nationality. Leaders, elders and other South East stakeholders are of the view that they are in support of the G5 since its action is based on equity and fairness.

Frank Kachi is the convener of Ala Igbo Amaka Congress. He said his group is in total support of the G5 in its aspirations to instill internal discipline, order and fairness in PDP. He noted that his group had left PDP for LP and that meant a massive support for Peter Obi’s presidential dream.

Clearly working as a clog against the PDP and continuously taking steps aimed at causing severe injuries on the party, Wike has been romancing with APC, LP and NNPP.  He had invited former national chairman of the ruling party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the LP presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and presidential candidate of NNPP, Alhaji Musa Kwankwanso at various times to Rivers State to commission projects where he equally reiterated the five governors stand against PDP and Atiku if Ayu does not quit his position as national chairman of the party.

Last week, Wike yet invited Ortom to Rivers State to commission some roads his administration  built. In his address, Ortom proclaimed it to the rooftop that the next president of Nigeria would come from the south, noting he would be a Christian with a good state of health. Informed commentators say it was G5’s another way of saying its group will not support Atiku and PDP.

“Even if the blind among us cannot see it, they must have heard it that the PDP is at the crossroads in view of Wike’s campaign against Atiku and the party over Ayu. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

“The PDP, instead of fighting to win the 2023 presidential election is rather fighting to put its house in order, and it is few weeks to the presidential election”, Andrew Ebuka, a community leader in Imo State observed.

One of the biggest  obstacles Tinubu and APC are facing going into the 2023 general elections is the northern Christians opposition to the same faith ticket of the party.

Hell was let loose following Tinubu’s choice of former governor of  Bornu State,  Alhaji Kashim Shettima  as his presidential running mate for the election.

The northern Christians led by former Chief of army staff, General Theophilus Danjuma, have been campaigning seriously against the APC’s Muslim- Muslim ticket. Danjuma, in one of public outings urged northern Christians not to vote for any party or presidential candidate who does not their interest at heart.

“What Tinubu and APC did is totally unacceptable to any decent Nigerian. In fact, it’s politically abhorrent. By running on a Muslim-Muslim ticket, the APC is simply telling millions of Christians in the country that they do not matter”, the PDP publicity secretary in Imo State, Comrade Collins Opuruzor responded.

The former speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara is one of the voices condemning the Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, urging northern Christians to totally reject it by voting against the APC at the presidential election on February 25, 2023.

In a communique issued after a meeting by the Northern Christian Elders and leaders on Friday, the group formally adopted Atiku Abubakar of the PDP for the 2023 elections. Another group of northern Christians led by former secretary to the government of the federation, SGF, Mr. Babachir Lawal, had previously endorsed Mr. Peter Obi of Labour Party for the polls.

In his contribution,  an opinion leader and commentator on national issues, Mr. Afam Echi, though not a Christian, also kicked against Tinubu’s same faith ticket. “I am not a Christian neither am I a Muslim, I am a traditionalist.

“However, the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket is outrageous, particularly this period when Nigeria is standing on a banana peel. We must do everything to assure every segment and  every zone of inclusion and giving all sense of belonging”.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of APC in Imo State, Comrade Cajetan Duke Akuta, defended Tinubu’s action, insisting that what the party needed to win election is unity of purpose, togetherness of all leaders and members of the party.

He argued that at this material time, religion and ethnicity should be played down in Nigeria’s party politics while promoting the candidate’s records, achievements and vision for the country.