PDP VP Slot: Okowa More Suitable Than Wike – Atiku

By Adesina Soyooye

While not exactly saying that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, is unfit to be his running mate, Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said he found the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, better suited for the job than Wike.

There have been cold shoulders between the Wike camp and Atiku since Atiku chose Okowa instead of Wike as his running mate.

Wike was an aspirant at the PDP Presidential Primary, and came a respectable second to Atiku. Even though he had sworn, in the days running to the Primary, that he would never accept to be a Vice Presidential candidate, he apparently changed his mind after the Atiku victory and wanted it.

Wike was one of the three short-listed for Atiku to choose from, along with Okowa and the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel.

According to the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, who chaired the Committee set up to shortlist three people for the position, Wike came first, by a landslide, garnering 14 out of 17 votes. But Atiku chose Okowa.

Since then Wike and his camp, including Ortom, Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, have given some space to PDP activities.

Seeing what seems like a loophole, other Parties, including the APC, have been lobbying Wike. His private residence in Port Harcourt has become a Mecca of sorts for them. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party visited and so did Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP. The APC sent three Governors to Wike.

But speaking on ARISE TV on Friday, Atiku said he did not reject Wike, but that he found Okowa more suitable, more prepared for the job of his running mate.

He explained that from the onset, he told Party stakeholders that his pick would be one who will be prepared to step into his shoes as President without much notice and so, must have the qualities of a President. He found that in Okowa not in Wike.

Atiku: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our Governors, the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a President-in-waiting.

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

Atiku said  he chose who, in his opinion, could deliver among the nominees that were forwarded to him.

Atiku “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I had picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019.  I still picked an Igbo for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

He, however, said the party was talking to Wike to let go and move forward.

Atiku: “We are reaching out to Wike and talking to him, very soon, we will resolve our internal crises.

“I have contested this Presidency a couple of times and I don’t try to blame anybody, I accept the outcome or go to court.”