Anxiety in PDP as Atiku, Obi, Obasanjo chase Rivers Gov to London
*Avoid statements that may compromise unity, Atiku tells supporters
By Ezeocha Nzeh and Myke Uzendu
Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the camp of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike may have become the beautiful bride as all the major presidential candidates have intensified efforts to woo him and secure his support
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday, met with the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi; and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in London.
The meeting came about two days after the Rivers State Governor was said to have met with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu is London too
Although details of the meeting between Obasanjo, Obi and Wike were not made public as of the time of filing this report, it was gathered from inside cources that the meeting centered much on negotiations ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Sources confirmed that Wike attended the meeting with his allies including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, among others.
Governor Wike also met witt the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, who also reportedly jetted out to London on Wednesday obviously for a meeting the Rivers Governor, after he was reported to have met with Tinubu on Monday in London.
The meeting with Tinubu has led to reports from his camp that hey have secured the assurance from the Rivers State Governor that he would work for and support the actualization of the Tinubu presidency in 2023
This was disclosed by an alliy to the APC presidential candidate, and vice presidential placeholder of the party, Ibrahim Masari, who did not only confirm the London meeting, but announced that Wike and his group have agreed to work for the APC presidential candidate in 2023
The party elders are apprehensive that the activities of Wike and the governors of Oyo and Benue states, Seyi Makinde and Samuel Ortom, may negatively affect the PDP’s chances in the 2023 presidential election.
The meeting it was gathered has developed cold feats among the leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as it has dominated discourse among the PDP hierarchy on Wednesday.
The National Working Committee of the party met with PDP governorship candidates across the 36 states of the federation at its Wadata Plaza headquarters in Wuse, Abuja, on Wednesday, with the Rivers State candidate conspicuously absent.
The meeting was attended by all PDP governorship candidates except the Rivers state candidate and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who is currently in the United Kingdom with Governor Wike and has been attending all the meetings with him.
Meanwhile, as the crises that engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to linger the party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar has advised party members to desist from making statements that will break down the fragile peace and unity in the party.
Atiku in a statement on Thursday called on all stakeholders to call their supports to order and desist forthwith from making statements that are capable of compromising the on-going work towards further strengthening the party and bringing all its leaders together
According to the statement, “it has become imperative to appeal to all party members, leaders and everyone related to, connected with or associated with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar to desist from making comments that potentially reduce the optics of PDP’s image as a united political party.
“This appeal becomes necessary in order to call the attention of party leaders and members to the diversionary antics of the ruling All Progressives Congress which, in manufacturing a false impression of division within the PDP, aims to hoodwink the Nigerian public to overlook the monumental failures of the ruling party.
“Today, Nigerians look up to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the charge in ousting the ruling party. This expectation from the people is the reason why the APC is jittery of their impending fall in next year’s general election. It is also the very reason why the ruling party is manipulating the political process to create a sense of division in the PDP.
“Because they know that there is nothing to campaign with from their records of performance in office, the APC has elected to play the role of the devil’s advocate, regaling in celebration of their imaginary invincibility upon a fraudulent claim that the PDP is divided.
“It is for this reason that appeal to every true member of the PDP and anyone who truly wishes the success of the PDP presidential candidate to not fall for the antics of the APC in making statements that could give credence to the false claim of divisions in the PDP.
“All the leaders of the party, including especially the governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Wike and all governors of the PDP are united in working for the victory of the PDP in next year’s general election across board.
“What is at stake in the next year’s election is the future of Nigeria and all leaders and members of the PDP are on the same page in the mission to rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of the APC.”
The party has been engulfed in series of crises, an aftermath of its Presidential Primary election and subsequent choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to its Presidential candidate.
It was widely reported that Gov. Wike who was aggrieved by the development has remained aloof to party activities and was recently cited at meetings with members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) including its Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
