Rivers: APC Governors’ Joking, Wike Going Nowhere – Saraki

By Ayodele Oni and Akinwale Kasali

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has described the visit of some Governors of the ruling All Progressive Congress to Portharcut as an exercise in futility.

The Rivers helmsman has refused to speak after Atiku Abubakar picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state as his running mate, thus shattering the expectations of many who have wrongly predicted that Wike will get the position.

14 out of 17 members  committee set up by the party to select a vice presidential candidate for Atiku were believed to have voted for Wike, who have been meeting with some opposition leaders, fueling speculation that he may dump the PDP.

His meeting with the APC governors has also rattled top PDP leaders, who are now unsure of his future in the party.

Three Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi Akeredolu and Babajide Sanwo-olu, had on Friday visited their Rivers state counterpart during which they held a closed for meeting with him.

Speaking, Saraki said their effort will amount to nothing, because Wike will remain in PDP.

Saraki who is also a former Governor of Kwara state told newsmen in Ilorin, the Kwara state’s capital vafter the Eid prayer, that the visit would amount to nothing at the end of the day “because PDP would not allow Governor Wike to go.

“Governor Wike is an important member of our party and I am very confident that in no distant time, we will sit down and address all the issues.

“There is no doubt about it that he has cause to feel the way he does, but there are better ways by which issue like this can be resolved.

“The good thing is that we are all talking to one another. We are on top of the situation and PDP will reunite and forge ahead to win the next elections. I assure you that PDP will definitely resolve its family issue that it currently has.

“The fact that some APC governors went to see their colleague, trying to capitalize on what they think is an issue, is a gross miscalculation. At the end of the day, their visit is going no where.

“The APC governors know that it is this kind of a crack they need to latch on. Fortunately, we are not going to give him (Wike) to them because the election ahead is too important.

“The destinies of millions of Nigerians are too important and even bigger than any party or individual. I appreciate that, all our stakeholders appreciate that and Governor Wike himself appreciates that.”

Meanwhile, Governor Wike the magazine learnt had made some demands for peace to reign in the party.

Top among his demands is that the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu to resign his position.

Close watchers of the party told the magazine that the leadership of the PDP, particularly Atiku is not likely to accept the demand considering his close ties with Ayu.