Atiku Vs. Wike: PDP Reconciliatory Meeting Holds, Governors Wade In

By Gideon Njoku

Unless there is a last minute  change, a meeting of the warring Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, factions will hold in Abuja on Monday.

The meeting is between Team Atiku and Team Wike.

It is not the only meeting slated to resolve the festering crisis which, if not contained, could be a drawback to the beginning of the campaign, proper.

Governors under the umbrella of the Party, this medium gathered, have resolved to wade into the crisis and make peace between its two heavyweights.

The wrangling between the Presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has for weeks on end, been threatening to tear the party into two factions and so, affect its 2023 aspiration.

Trouble started in the Party when Atiku beat Wike to a second place during the PDP Presidential Primary held in Abuja. Shocked at his defeat and what he saw as a betrayal, Wike stormed out of the venue.

He felt betrayed, both by his erstwhile strong political ally, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who, at the venue, withdrew from the race and asked his supporters to vote Atiku, and the indiscreet action of the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who visited Tambuwal hours after the Primary, and hailed him as “the hero of the Convention.”

In 2019, Wike had backed Tambuwal against Atiku.

From the beginning, Wike was against an Atiku taking part in the Presidential Primary, insisting it “is the turn of the South.” Not a few PDP members and non- members, had the same opinion, especially, as the National Chairman, Ayu, is a Northerner. No one region produces both the Chairman and the Presidential candidate at the same time.

The PDP did when it, surprisingly, threw the race open.

However, the crisis took a turn for the worse when Atiku picked Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate, instead of Wike who, according to the Chairman of the Committee set up to screen possible running mates for Atiku, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, topped the shortlisted three which included Okowa and the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel.

Wike and his supporters hit the roof. Wike’s anger over the way he was treated, knew no bounds. He has, since then, given the Party space, shunned all appeals at reconciliation, and has instead,  been directly and indirectly, threatening the party as well as having an open, uncomfortable romance with high profile members of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The PDP is worried over this romance.

No doubt, the crisis, if not checked, is likely to harm PDP at the polls. To lose Rivers State is a big deal.

However, there seems to be a glimmer of hope that the issues will be sorted out.

According to our sources, a meeting of Team Atiku and Team Wike is scheduled to hold today, Monday, August 15, 2022 to sort things out.

Among other things, the source said one of the requests Team Wike will make is that Ayu steps down as the National Chairman and make way for a Southerner to emerge.

In an interview with ARISE TV, recently, Atiku had said Ayu would step down as soon as he, Atiku, wins the Presidential election. This is neither here nor there. He has not won yet, and who knows who will win in a race already being touted as a three-horse race between Atiku, Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, and the APC candidate, Bola Tinubu.

But Atiku’s submission contradicted Ayu’s earlier stand. Ayu had said he would step down as National Chairman if a Northerner emerged the Party’s Presidential candidate. He has, since Atiku’s emergence, sat tight.

Those expected at the reconciliatory meeting, among others are:

Camp Wike

*Professor Jerry Gana, PDP Board of Trustees member, who, the other day, hosted a meeting between Atiku and Wike, the first since Okowa’s choice.

*Bello Adoke, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice under the Goodluck Jonathan Government

*H.E. Donald Duke, former Governor, Cross Rivers State

*H.E. Olusegun Mimiko, former Governor, Ondo State.

*H.E. Ibrahim Dankwambo, former Governor, Gombe State.

Camp Atiku

* H.E. Ahmadu Finitri, Governor, Adamawa State who, a couple of days ago, visited Wike in PH, apparently, on the behest of Atiku.

*Hon Adamu Waziri, former Minister of Police Affairs.

*Hon Eyitayo Jegede, SAN

* H E Sen Liyel Imoke, former Governor, Cross Rivers State.

*Engr. Jide Adeniji

Not a few PDP faithfuls are praying for a fruitful meeting.