“Every governor, legislator, and other elected officials produced by our party, and party members and loyalists, are much loved and respected by me,” says Atiku
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Rattled by the seeming revolt against him by some aggrieved governors and stakeholders loyal to the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday, vowed to unite the opposition party and Nigeria.
The disquiet in the PDP following its May 28 presidential primary and the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar in 2023, blew open on Wednesday.
Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, fired the first salvo on Wednesday when he signalled that Atiku may not enjoy his support ahead of the 2023 presidential election, unless God tells him otherwise.
Ortom made the revelation on the Arise TV breakfast programme, The Morning Show.
Ortom, who had supported Wike for the presidential ticket of the party, said he was disappointed that Atiku did not pick the Rivers helmsman as his running mate even after 14 out of the 17 committee members Atiku appointed to help him decide on a running mate preferred Wike.
When asked if as a party man he would support Atiku in the 2023 election, he said: “I am praying. But for now, I have gone into hibernation. If God directs me that I should support him, why should I not. But I expect him (Atiku) to reach out to Wike first and the rest of us. For me, I have gone into hibernation and I am waiting for God. Whatever he directs me to do, I will do.”
Shortly after Ortom’s outburst, another chieftain of the party and former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, said Atiku will not be elected president of Nigeria.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Fayose said: “The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or NOTHING. Awa’ South’ lo kan’. Nigerians should await details soon.”
Governors elected on the platform of the party also shunned the inauguration of the campaign council for its Osun governorship candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in what appeared a strong signal of grand design to ditch Atiku and Okowa in the days ahead.
The Osun election is scheduled to take place on July 16.
The PDP had named Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, as chairman of the committee.
Seyi Makinde of Oyo; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia; Nyesom Wike of Rivers; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa; Godwin Obaseki of Edo, and Samuel Ortom of Benue were appointed as vice-chairmen.
But they were all absent during the inauguration, including Diri.
Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and Okowa were the governors present.
Reacting on Thursday, Atiku disclosed that action is being taking to address the feelings of all party members.
“The @OfficialPDPNig will remain united. Focus on our actions. We are taking action to address the feelings of all party members. The unity in our community is my priority. Our resolve to unify Nigeria starts in our party and moves to the community, then on to society,” he tweeted.
“Every Governor, Legislator, and other elected officials produced by our party, and party members and loyalists, are much loved and respected by me.
“When they speak, I listen. I do not only listen. Appropriate actions have been taken, are being taken, and will continue to be advanced. –AA”
Meanwhile, Wike has kept mum over the raging controversy.
He is right now vacationing in Turkey with another key supporter from the Southeast, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia State.