PDP grandee Nnamani tears into Atiku, insists ‘feel-good political operatives cannot deliver’
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“Politics is local and the folks from these affected [G5] states parading with the PDP leadership will not deliver their polling booths without the Governors.
“Without the involvement of the Governors that are our leaders, these mere cheerleaders and feel-good political operatives cannot deliver.
“They can drag themselves from their home states to Abuja. Some are Abuja permanent residents. They dress the meetings and colour the rallies, but that is what it is, political colour dressing.’’
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Senator Chimaroke Nnamani has poured cold water on the hope of Atiku Abubakar winning the presidential election without the support of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) five Governors (G5) who are insisting on internal party democracy.
The G5 – Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Sam Ortom (Benue), Ikpeazu Okezie (Abia), and Ifeanyi Uguanya (Enugu) – demand the resignation of PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu as condition for supporting Atiku.
Ayu has refused to honour his word to resign if a Northerner emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, and he is backed by Atiku.
Atiku launched his campaign in Uyo on Monday will high hopes of becoming President in his sixth attempt.
But Nnamani, a member of the PDP and former Enugu Governor, argued Atiku and the party leadership should have done more give-and-take to carry the G5 along.
“Today, I go on record in total condemnation of the treatment of the five Governors mostly from the Southern states within the PDP. The Governors are our leaders and their humiliation rubs off on all of us,” Nnamani said in a statement on Tuesday.
Window dressing campaign
Nnamani said Governors were not treated with ignominy during his tenure and cautioned the PDP against erecting parallel structures in the states ruled by the five Governors.
“Politics is local and the folks from these affected [G5] states parading with the PDP leadership will not deliver their polling booths without the Governors.
“Without the involvement of the Governors that are our leaders, these mere cheerleaders and feel-good political operatives cannot deliver,” Namani said, per The PUNCH.
“They can drag themselves from their home states to Abuja. Some are Abuja permanent residents. They dress the meetings and colour the rallies, but that is what it is, political colour dressing.’’
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PDP BoT mulls backing Wike and telling Ayu to step down – for peace to reign
PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) members may tell Ayu to resign for peace to reign and for Atiku to have a real shot at the Villa in 2023.
This new detail emerged after Wike left them speechless when they met with him in Port Harcourt on 4 October when he recounted for most of the four hours the parley lasted, the litany of Atiku’s failed promises to the South.
It was learnt the reconciliation committee members were convinced Atiku had treated Wike wrongly.
Acting BoT Chairman Adolphus Wabara led the committee members to the meeting.
Other members included former Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations Minister Tanimu Turaki; former Kogi Governor Ibrahim Idris, and four others.
A former PDP national officer said Wike, who spoke on behalf of the G5, told the BoT team how Atiku repeatedly disappointed the Southern bloc, and vowed to boycott the PDP Campaign Council unless Ayu resigns.
“Wike told them Atiku disappointed him. He said he didn’t bargain for Vice President; it was Atiku who begged him.
“When he eventually agreed and he expected them to work something out, he came back to say he had picked [Delta Governor Ifeanyi] Okowa,” recounted the source, a member of Uche Secondus executive.
“But when Atiku chose Okowa, he didn’t come back to them [Wike and other Governors] to say anything. And the speech he made when he was unveiling Okowa was very disappointing.”
Gang up against the South
“Wike also told them that Atiku came to London and assured him that Ayu would resign to balance things.
“He also complained about the gang up and sharing of positions which they had already done. Ayo Fayose and Dan Orbih were present during the meeting,” the source added, per The PUNCH.
“By the time he told them all that, they [BoT members] were speechless and they were convinced that Wike had been wronged. He told them how he took care of the party when all of them left and how he never abandoned the party for a day.
“After hearing all that transpired from Wike, they asked him the way forward.
“Wike replied that the only way forward was for Ayu to resign and that if Ayu does not resign, nobody should talk to him about PDP again. He vowed not to leave the party but at the same time he would not work for Atiku.
“Wike complained that there was a time Sule Lamido, Babangida Aliu and Tom Ikimi – all Atiku loyalists – were abusing him and Atiku refused to checkmate them until it got out of hand.”
Panel working on its report
BoT member Shuaibu Oyedokun said the committee would meet as soon as its report is ready.
He confirmed the committee has met with all the Governors in Wike’s camp as well as with Atiku and Okowa and is set to write its report and present it to the full BoT.
“After compilation, we will submit our report to a larger BoT meeting which will consider it before submitting it to the NWC. The working committee will in turn present it to NEC [National Executive Committee],” Oyedokun disclosed.
