The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is in big trouble as the crisis rocking the opposition party has taken another dimension.
Recall that the PDP on Monday flagged-off its presidential campaign despite its yet to be resolved internal crisis.
However, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and four other PDP governors were reportedly absent at the well attended campaign flag-off.
Meanwhile, political observers are of the opinion that the absence of Governor Wike and his allies, Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom of Benue and Seyi Makinde of Oyo is a huge blow to the party’s dream of reclaiming the presidential seat.
Sources said this is not the first time the aggrieved governors are boycotting the party’s major event since Atiku’s emergence.
Sources added that in September when the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) was inaugurated, Wike and his allies, including Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, still stayed away.
Party sources squealed to us that their action is hinged on the insistence that the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu must resign to provide a sense of equity in the leadership of the party, with the Southern part of the country feeling neglected.
Sources said before Ayu became the PDP’s National Chairman that Wike and his men were all over attending PDP activities and calling the shots.
Besides, Governor Wike and his group had before now expressed their grievances that Ayu was supposed to step down immediately to allow a Southerner take over and ensure a balanced leadership in the party. But Ayu is not ready to resign.
Furthermore, we were informed that Atiku had invited Wike and his allies for a private meeting in Abuja where he reportedly promised to support Wike in 2027.
We gathered that immediately after the meeting with Atiku, Wike and his allies, now known as G-5 Governors, stormed Enugu and held a closed-door meeting.
However, an insider said; “Their stand remains that if Ayu refuses to resign, they will not be part of any presidential campaign of the party.”
“Both Atiku and Ayu are obstinate to the calls for the national chairman’s resignation; what it means is that they don’t value the support of these governors. So, the G-5 Governors have also decided not to move an inch from their stand.”
“They made that point clear again today in Uyo and there is no going back; these Governors have been the ones sustaining the party, but Atiku and Ayu came from nowhere and want to rubbish them. Let’s see how far they will go.”
Speaking on the recent development, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said; “The action of the G-5 Governors is not a surprise. G-5 Governors are right to boycott Atiku’s campaign flag-off owing to the PDP’s unjust treatment of Southern Nigeria.”
“They have shown that they are true Nigerians. How could you explain a situation where a party’s presidential candidate and the national chairman will come from one region? So, what are they going to tell the people during the campaign?”
“How would these Southern and Middle-Belt Governors go and start preaching to people to support Atiku? It will be a misnomer, it will be a bad show.”
“We told you the last time that about 18 Governors are behind Peter Obi. Atiku is being deceived by someone in the presidency; he will only survive 2023 if he heeds to the demand of Wike and his group.”
“But if he continues to let pride rule over him, what happened to him in 2019 would be a child’s play to the fate that will befall him in 2023. He will come a distant third in that election. It appears that the gods have blinded his reasoning and that is why Ayu has refused to step down. PDP as it is constituted today has no sense of justice and equity.”
“You saw that the stadium could not even be filled up; Wike alone is a mass movement; so, you can’t underrate his absence, alongside his four other colleagues.”
“Don’t also forget that Atiku is not sincere towards resolving the crisis at all. Recall that in Enugu he told the people of the South-East that his presidency will be a stepping stone to their dream of having a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction. Few days later, he was quoted to have promised Wike of the same presidency in 2027. Is this a leader you can trust? NIgerians are wiser now.”
