By Akinwale Kasali
Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has disclosed why he picked the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate over others.
In settling for Okowa, Out of the three names short-listed, Atiku said he picked somebody who has the potential to succeed him in office. The two other names were Rivers and Akwa Ibom State Governors, Nyesom Wike and Udom Emmanuel.
In 2019, Atiku had promised to be in office for only one term. If the pair wins the 2023 Presidential election, and if Atiku sticks to his 2019 promise, given his reason for picking him, it means Okowo is in line to succeed Atiku in office in 2017.
Announcing his choice of Okowa, Atiku said: I am delighted to announce Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as my Vice Presidential candidate. I am pleased to announce the one that will be by my side. I look forward to travelling our great country together, engaging with all Nigerians and building a shared future of peace, unity and prosperity for all. We can get it done.”
Even though Okowa’s name had, for a over a week, been strongly speculated as the would-be Atiku’s running mate, his choice still came as as a suprise to many people.
On Wednesday, June 15, it was overshadowed by the alleged choice of Wike as Atiku’s choice. The situation was not helped by a statement released by PDP’s National Working Committee, NWC, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, which praised Wike to high heavens and said the NWC adjudged him as the best to run with Atiku, given his brilliance, energy and commitment to Party.
Okowa’s nomination was announced and confirmed by Atiku himself on Thursday at an unveiling event of his running mate held in Abuja.
Addressing members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) at the party headquarters, Atiku said he consulted with all organs of the party before his choice.
He also said party’s unity is critical for a good campaign.
He said he wished the other recommended persons to work with him. He said they were qualified but he settled for someone who has the “potential to succeed me”.
With Okowa’s choice, the Southeast has finally lost every stake in the Presidency in both the PDP and the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC candidate is from the South, and would, therefore, pick a running mate from the North.
The South-east had thought both parties, and especially, the PDP would zone the Presidential seat to it- a zone which, since 1999, when democracy returned to Nigeria, has neither held the office of the President nor that of the Vice President. When it failed, the zone had
hoped that one of its own, especially, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, could run with Atiku.
That has crashed.
In 2019, it got a chance when Atiku paired up with Obi, but the ticket failed. The incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo won.
However, the choice of Okowa is a consolation price for the South-east. Okowa is from Delta State, but he is from Owa, an Igbo- speaking area of Delta State. Okowa is, therefore, an Igbo from Anioma.
A Medical Doctor-turned politician, Okowa was a Senator before he was elected as the Governor of Delta State. He is a Christian of the Anglican Communion, and is serving his second term as Delta State Governor.
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