PDP Crisis: Governors Move To Reconcile Atiku, Wike

Following the feud between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, governors elected on the platform of the party, yesterday, decided to intervene in the rift, reports Vanguard.

It will be recalled that Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State visited Governor Wike in Port Harcourt, Rivers State last Thursday as a way of placating the latter.

Fintiri, who is chairman of the reconciliation committee, had said the committee will achieve the desired result for the success of the party, ahead of the 2023 elections.

He also disclosed that Nigerians will not forgive PDP if it failed to produce the next President, considering what he described as the rudderless nature of the Nigerian state under APC.

Why PDP govs are wading in

A source, privy to the meeting, told Vanguard that the PDP governors will meet this week in Adamawa State to resolve the protracted rift between Atiku and Wike.

Speaking on the crisis, the source said: “I do not see it as a rift. I know there are plans by Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State to host the PDP Governors’ Forum in his state.

“I do not know whether they have fixed the date yet, but it is going to be within this week or next week. The governors will meet and discuss issues at that level as part of the reconciliation efforts.

Fintiri seen as neutral person

“I am aware the governors are talking among themselves and as you know, they hold their meetings from one state to another. Fintiri has not hosted and this is his turn to host and I can tell you authoritatively that the governors are talking among themselves about the need to hold that meeting urgently. Since the convention, no meeting has been held.

“Some of the PDP governors believe that if Fintiri is hosting the meeting, he is seen as a neutral person that can pull all the sides together.”

Wike not against reconciliation

Asked whether Wike is not disposed to a peace parley, the source, a former member of the National Working Committee, NWC, said: “Wike is disposed to peace. If you look at his position, he has said that the problem is not Atiku but the people around Atiku. Whether that is true or false, that is his position.”

Related: 2023: I Didn’t Drag Atiku, PDP, Tambuwal To Court, Says Wike

Ex-northern gov, ex-military brass frustrating peace moves — PDP Source

Also, indications emerged yesterday how a former northern governor and an ex-military top brass are frustrating moves to reconcile Governor Wike and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

This is on the heels of the claim by a Board of Trustees, BoT, member of the party, Professor Jerry Gana, that some forces within and outside PDP were frustrating reconciliation efforts.

Multiple sources within the PDP told Vanguard that while the Wike camp insists on Ayu stepping down, the Atiku camp, backed by these forces, may not want Ayu to be shown the way out.

But countering the anti-Ayu forces, a former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Chris Ekpenyong, yesterday, faulted those calling for the removal of Ayu, noting that it is too late to change Ayu as elections are around the corner.

But a source familiar with the crisis, said these forces warned that they “will continue to thwart the reconciliation move if it does not favour them.”

The source said: “The powerful forces frustrating the peace moves are a former northern governor and former military general from the north. They do not want the arranged winning formula to change.

“Ayu too is adamant. Wike has given his condition and one of the conditions is what will the South be given to campaign with? Another condition is that Ayu must resign and the position of national chairman must come to the South.

“Ayu also gave his condition that he will not be the only one to go, and that all members of the National Working Committee, NWC, must resign. In as much as you have an internal set-up that will thwart the reconciliation move, the party is not ready.

“For Wike, he has given his conditions and if the party is not ready to meet those conditions, he will sit on the fence.”

It’s risky for Ayu to go few months to polls — Ekpenyong

Speaking on the crisis in the party, a former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Chris Ekpenyong, urged all feuding parties to sheathe their swords, adding that those calling for Ayu’s resignation “should understand that it is too late into the election for that to occur.”

While he warned that propaganda could destroy the party, the PDP leader said: “The goal should be to unify Nigeria first and every other thing will follow thereafter.

“I’m appealing again to Mr Project, my brother, Governor Wike, to remember his words at the convention ground where he said he will support whoever emerged as the presidential candidate of the party. “He also promised the PDP National Assembly members during his consultation that he won’t leave the party, no matter the outcome of the convention. He is known as a man who keeps to his words. He shouldn’t disappoint those who believe in him.

“Also, those calling for the resignation of the party chairman, especially our time-tested leader and former National Vice Chairman, South-West, Chief Bode George, should understand that it’s too late into the election for that to occur.

“It will cause a lot of confusion that may hurt the party during the election. Such issues should be left till after the general election, as the party stood by other zones to produce presidents, even the South-West during their turn.

“We should all reciprocate and stand by the North-East to also produce a president.

“We should all bear in mind that in politics, you win some, you lose some. I appeal to all sides to sheathe their swords. The election is close by. PDP must convince Nigerians that it can manage the resources of the country in the best interest of the people.

“We should avoid arrogance and name-calling, propaganda that can destroy the party. The Board of Trustees must rise to the occasion and the warring chieftains should calm down.

There have been mistakes, which will be amended after the general election when we win.

“For now, the major goal should be how to rescue the nation from collapsing as the heroes of the party come together to defend this nation. We should also come together as party men and women to defend our nation from the hands of this failed government.

“Let the sacrifices of our party heroes, those who have gone and those still with us not be in vain.”