By Akinwale Kasali
What played out during the Presidential Primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Saturday, May 28, 2022, was a betrayal. It was a classic confirmation of the saying that in politics, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
Otherwise how can one explain that it was the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, a Presidential aspirant until at the venue of the Presidential Primaries, who bailed Atiku Abubakar out, and pushed him to defeat Wike
In 2019 when both Atiku and Tambuwal contested at the Primaries held in Porthacourt, Wike not only campaigned for Tambuwal, backed him with everything at his disposal, but he made enemies over Tambuwal.
One of them: Atiku who was, also, the eventual winner but was defeated at the main election by the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. It took time to appease and console Wike over Tambuwal’s loss.
On Saturday, it was different. Wike was on the ballot,along with Atiku and Tambuwal. He was on the ballot because he and other Southern Governors insisted it was now the turn of the South to produce the President after Buhari’s eight years in office.
For Wike in, particular, he asked that it be zoned to the South-south which, since 1999, he said, has been a strong base for the PDP.
So, on Saturday, the three of them filed out, along with 10 other candidates. Both Atiku and Wike were the frontrunners. They were also the front-spenders. Both were intimidating. The result could go either way, most people speculated.
Then, enters Tambuwal with a masterstroke. He pulled the rogue from under Wike’s feet. He stepped down for Atiku, and asked his many supporters from his Zone, including Imo State to vote Atiku. From then on, the game changed.
Out of a total number of 767 accredited delegates, the former Vice President polled 371 to prevail. Wike garnered a respectable 237 to come second. He beat former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who scored 70 votes to the third place, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel who scored 38 votes to the fourth position. The others were “also ran.”
Opinion is that Wike should walk with a swagger. He was not humiliated. Seeing that the North was more united than the South, he did well. And, there are many ifs
What if Tambuwal did not step down for Atiku? What if Emmanuel stepped down for Wike in the spirit of the South-south and especially, in the spirit of the decision reached by Southern Governors in Asaba that the Presidential seat rotates to the South? What if all Imo delegates supported Wike, who backed Imo PDP in 2019, instead of having a divided house – a few for Wike, and most for Atiku?
Where Was The South-east?
The South-east was humiliated. More than any other Zone, it cried out that it was their turn. The Zone had two major candidates, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim and Peter Obi. But on May 20, Obi resigned from the PDP, and its Primaries. He probably knew what was afoot.
There was, also, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, who nobody reckoned with.
He did not do much to woo delegates. He was just there. But that cannot be said of Anyim who campaigned hard. He traversed most of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory. He was given some hope everywhere he went. He had a solid message. But on Saturday, he was abandoned by even the South-east.
All the trips he undertook, all the promises he got, amounted to a humiliating 14 votes. He couldn’t even count on the delegates from his Zone, a Zone which he made proud by being the first to declare interest when people were saying the South-east had no candidates.
When it mattered most, the South-east split its votes mainly between Wike and Atiku. Anyim was thus given an undeserved bloody nose. Ohuabunwa got only one vote, apparently, the one he cast for himself.
Peter Obi Was Smart
The chorus after the humiliating outing of the South-east on Saturday was: Peter Obi is smart. He saw the handwriting on the wall and quit. Otherwise, he would have suffered Anyim’s fate. Obi, comfortable in the Labour Party where he is now, must be having a good laugh.
Atiku’s Fifth Attempt, Last Chance
This would be Atiku’s fifth attempt at the Presidential seat since 1999 when he contested at the PDP Primaries along with Obasanjo and others. He ended up becoming the Vice President. Since then, the Adamawa born politician had contested under other political parties, including AC and/or ACN and the PDP.
At over 70 years of age, the 2023 contest will be his last bus stop. If he wins, fine. If he fails, it is goodbye to a chequred political journey.
He understands that. In his acceptance speech, he called for unity, reconciliation, and promised to unify Nigeria and Nigerians.
Said he in a post: “Today, the March to rebuild and unite our great nation moves forward. I am honored to be named the Presidential candidate ot the Peoples Democratic Party.
“I look forward to speaking with Nigerians across the country, taking the message of hope and unity as we build one future for one people – AA #One Nigeria,”
2023 will tell.
