Wike Says He Will Reply Atiku, Expose Happenings In The PDP

By Gideon Njoku

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is on edge. This is a consequence of the threat by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to talk about the Party’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and expose the recent happenings in the Party.

Governor Wike’s threat came on Saturday following the interview granted to ARISE TV by Atiku on Friday.

During the interview, Atiku was asked why he overlooked Wike, and picked Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

Wike, a Presidential aspirant, had come a respectable second to Atiku during the Primary. Following Atiku’s victory, the candidate and the Party set up a Committee to shortlist a possible running mate to Atiku. The Committee, made up of 17 members was chaired by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

Three people were shortlist – Wike, Okowa and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel. According to Ortom, Wike came first. 14 out of the 17 members voted for him.

The expectation was that Wike already carried the day.  But Atiku, instead, picked Okowa to the disappointment and shock of Wike’s camp.

Since then, Wike has kept his distance from Party activities. And has said no word. But he has been playing host to all cadres of Politicians from other Political Parties, including the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Asked why he shunned Wike for Okowa, Atiku said he wanted a President-in-waiting, somebody he could work with amicably, and somebody who understands how bad things are in Nigeria.

Atiku: “Governor Wike was nor rejected. Nobody was rejected in the Party. But you must understand that it is the prerogative of the candidate to pick his running mate – a running mate he believes he can work with amicably, and then, also deliver the policies of the Party, and also try to unify the Country.”

He said he found all those qualities in Okowa.

Obviously angered by Atiku’s response, Wike has promised to talk.

In a statement issued in Porthacourt on Saturday by his Media Aide, Kelvin Ebri, Wike said he would speak and let Nigerians know the truth about the PDP and the recent events surrounding it. He, also said he would speak on Atiku.

Wike: “On Atiku I will speak soon and Nigerians will know the actual truth of all that has transpired in the PDP in recent times.”

In the ARISE TV interview, Atiku said the Party was talking to Wike  and that issues would be sorted out.