Ayu makes move to placate Wike, others through Wabara

Ayu reportedly told Wabara: “My understanding is that the party wants unity. Thankfully, you can play the role of a unified.”

The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, is reportedly making moves to placate the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, and other members of his group through the party’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara.

It was gathered that Ayu is eagerly working to get Wike to his side or at least some members of his group. The standoff has stalled the constitution of the PDP campaign council.

According to Vanguard Newspaper, a highly placed member of the party’s NEC, who spoke in confidence, said, “As a party, we really want to put the past behind us and move forward.

“The vote of confidence on the NWC by the NEC was to send a clear message to our detractors especially the outgoing All Progressives Congress regime who have been desperate to cash in on our internal disagreements.

“In spite of everything that has happened, the PDP is one big family, we do have our issues without a doubt but we will resolve them.

“The list of members of the campaign council is ready but we are crossing the ‘T’s and doting the ‘I’s and ensuring that that house keeping issues such as: the reconciliation we’ve been talking about, has been sorted out before making it public.”

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It will be recalled that soon after receiving a vote of confidence by the party’s NEC, Ayu led a delegation of NWC members to the residence of the new Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, at his Abuja residence, on Friday.

He didn’t mince words when he implored the new BoT Chairman, who is a career diplomat before delving into politics, to assist the NWC in the task of reaching out to all aggrieved party members to sheath their swords.

Ayu explained that his understanding along with that of members of the NWC was that the vote of confidence reposed in them by NEC, was a call for unity among party members and an encouragement to rebuild trust where such was lacking.

Noting that the outcome of the NEC meeting was a win – win for the entire party, Ayu said, “My understanding is that the party wants unity. Thankfully, you can play the role of a unifier even better with your immense preparation as a diplomat, former Member House Of Representatives, former senator and ex-Senate President who had worked with this party for a long period of time. I am calling on you to lead the effort in reaching out to all our aggrieved members.

“You have the full support of myself, the candidate and the whole NWC to reach out to Governor Wike, all the governors and any person who is aggrieved, and appeal to them, plead with them to come back and let’s work together in the PDP family.

“If we do not win next year’s general election, Nigerians will be very very disappointed, the hope of Nigeria is on us.

“As the new BoT Chairman with diplomatic experience, we implore you to use your diplomatic skills to reach out to all aggrieved members and I am telling you that it is with our full support including that of the Presidential candidate and Vice-Presidential Candidate.

“You have our support. The entire BoT should select and reach out to them. We are appealing that they should come back and let us work together.”

Wabara promised to do all within his powers to restore peace and help move the party forward.

Wike’s camp it was also gathered is insisting that agreements reached this time around must be documented.

A source within the camp said, “We are wiling to negotiate but whatever agreement we reach this time must be documented. We have been deceived too many times already. Gentlemen’s agreements no longer appeal to us with these people.

“This is about what is right for our country. Nigerians deserve the best and people must begin to respect agreements in the interest of our nation because it is the failure to respect agreements that has brought Nigeria to where we are today.

“We are no longer safe, the economy is in shambles because of the greed of a few people.”