The People’s Democratic Party, or PDP, does not rule out the possibility of a last-minute reconciliation between PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike.
The hostility between the Rivers helmsman and the former Vice President, who has maintained his cool, began shortly following the special convention that took place in Abuja in May 2022.
Wike, a strong candidate, launched a series of rants against “our enemies,” a veiled reference to the winner and his associates, refusing to accept his defeat by Atiku.
The vociferous politician has attacked PDP leaders on every platform, including flagging or commissioning projects, interviews, public gatherings, and the media.
Wike told his supporters in a speech in November that he would announce the flagbearer they should vote for on February 25, and that he would do so in January.
In December, the governor made a similar remark, promising that “nothing will happen” and promising to travel the country to support any of Atiku’s opponents he supports.
While putting in place a flyover in Port Harcourt, Wike stated, “All of you who have been in suspense…saying all kinds of things, abusing me, wait, January is here.”
There are a lot of rumors that Wike, who has been accused of working against the party, is supporting Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, or APC, even though some people think he prefers Peter Obi of the Labour Party, or LP.
The former Minister of Education has boasted for months, but less than two weeks before the presidential election, he has yet to publicly endorse a candidate. The PDP is hopeful that the conflict will end peacefully.
Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary, stated to DAILY POST on Sunday night, “Talks are not done on the pages of newspapers, 24 hours is a lifetime in politics.”
The former member of the House of Representatives urged citizens to oust the ruling party, stating that the state of the nation since the APC assumed power far outweighed personal interests.
“Our candidate has made it abundantly clear that he is willing to reconcile. Beyond individual interests, the nation’s interests are at stake. We need to clean this mess up together.
People are going through a lot—uncertainty, lack of money, and lack of fuel. All of this took place under the umbrella of a group that set out to defraud Nigerians. Bad policies make the crisis worse; This was not what we requested.
We don’t know how they printed money because we don’t have enough information; The money is not currently in use. What took place? They approved the redesign of the naira, but there are no new notes available.
Are they not the people, their party, and the ones receiving the funds? A Government House in the Northwest is alleged to contain approximately N22.5 billion. Nigeria, according to the PDP, is in bad shape.
Ologunagba emphasized, “So, regarding reconciliation between Atiku and Wike, we will continue to have conversations.”
After Governor Aminu Tambuwal endorsed Atiku just before voting began at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Wike won the 2022 Abuja election as the runner-up.
The Sokoto helmsman is also the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, or PCC. At the moment, he is in charge of the Nigeria Governors Forum, or NGF.
Intriguingly, the former Obio/Akpor LG Chairman backed Tambuwal at the 2018 convention in Port Harcourt, where he also finished second, behind the Wazirin Adamawa.
Wike and loyalists began a cold war with Atiku and the PDP leadership, led by former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu, following the outcome of the previous primary.
Despite G5 governors’ initial opposition to a Northerner occupying the seat after another Northerner won the presidential ticket, the former Minister of Internal Affairs continues to serve as the National Chairman.
Ex-diplomats criticized the trip that Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) met in France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Additionally, the governor is at odds with Uche Secondus, a former ally and Ayu’s predecessor, for supporting Atiku and his camp.
“We will use all of our power.” At an event, he threatened, “I’m going to finish you to the last of you all who are going to Abuja to meet with our enemies.”
Secondus, who accepted Atiku’s appointment as a Technical Adviser for his campaign in September, asserted that he would not bow to Wike in response.
Like I said, you can’t crush anyone. Only God can crush, and I cannot fight or join issues with you,” the former PDP National Chairman stated in a statement.