At last, the hide and seek game between the Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has come to an end as they meet in London to iron out their differences.
Also in attendance were Governor Seyi Makinde , Okezie Ikpeazu, Ortom of Benue State amongst others.
The long wait is gradually yielding results as the crisis rocking the opposition party was almost becoming a nightmare.
More details later
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi and Rivers Gov Nyesom Wike as well as three Peoples Democratic Party Governors held a strategic meeting in London, capital of the United Kingdom.
The Governors at the meeting were: Sam Ortom (Benue); Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
The London meeting also attracted former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke and Senator Olaka Nwogu.
Details of the meeting remain sketchy but it’s believed it may not be unconnected with the 2023 general elections.
Wike is involved in a war of words with the camp of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
The three PDP Governors and Duke belong to the Wike’s camp, which has demanded for removal of the National Chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu among others as a condition to back Atiku in 2023.
With the ongoing crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s claim that he controls the votes of the electorate in the Southsouth state was countered by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido.
Lamido, who spoke on a Channels Television programme also hits out at Wike over his insistence that Dr. Iyorchia Ayu must resign as national chairman of the party.
But reacting through a statement by Wike’s Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, the Rivers State government described Lamido as irrelevant in modern politics.
Ebiri, who reeled out figures from the last general elections in Jigawa, said the former governor lacked electoral value.
Saying that Lamido was cracking the walls of unity in the party, Ebiri said no right-thinking member of the PDP would dismiss Wike’s contributions to the party.
The statement reads: “Under Lamido’s watch, as a governor of Jigawa State in 2015, the APC governorship candidate, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, scored a total 648,045 votes to defeat his PDP opponent, Malam Aminu Ringim, who scored a total 479, 447 votes. Worst still, in 2019, governor Abubakar polled 810,933, while the PDP candidate scored 288,356.
“Such records depict that Alhaji Lamido cannot and does not have such political following that will benefit the PDP. Those who want electoral victory for the PDP are not dampening the morale required for political offensive at APC, but Alhaji Lamido is cracking the wall of unity badly.
“Let it be told that in 2015, governor Wike, as an opposition candidate in Rivers State polled 1,029,102 votes to defeat the then ruling APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, who managed to garner a paltry 124,896 votes. And in 2019, the governor also won by landslide. This are marks of political sagacity and determination to keep PDP at a leading pedestal.
“So, as the 2023 general elections beckons, we wish to advise Alhaji Lamido to redeem his battered political image by delivering Jigawa State to the PDP, if he can”.
“While, we cannot deny that Alhaji Lamido has an inalienable right to his personal opinion, we wish to declare that he, however, lacks the right to malign governor Wike, whose immense contributions to the sustenance of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is not in dispute.
“It is rather appalling that at a time when concerted efforts are being made by lovers of true democracy and the unity of the party, to resolve some inherent contradictions plaguing the PDP, Alhaji Lamido and his cohorts, who have since lost their relevance in the polity, are busy creating friction and schism.
“Governor Wike, has never claimed to be custodian of the over 3 million votes in Rivers State. But as the leader of the PDP and good people of Rivers State, anyone who underates the governor’s political pedigree or dares to ignore his influence in the State and beyond, will be doing so at his own peril.
“We wish to remind Alhaji Lamido that governor Wike has never left anyone in doubt about his capacity to sway the voters in Rivers State in a direction that benefits the people and the State, in the overall. When he speaks, Rivers people will listen, no doubt.
“Perhaps, Alhaji Lamido thinks Nigerians are suffering from selective amnesia to have forgotten in a hurry, the role he and … played between 2014 and 2015 that culminated in the defeat of the PDP in 2015 general election.
“We hope that he is not up in such scheme again to cause a repeat of that history. Otherwise, Alhaji Lamido won’t be making disparaging comments about governor Wike, whom many have described as the pillar of the PDP since 2015.
“We wish to state without equivocation that no well-meaning member of the PDP will describe governor Wike as ‘insignificant’ in the affairs of the PDP.”
A political support group, Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023, has confirmed the talks between All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State saying it is a good omen for the party ahead of 2023 general elections.
The Director-General of the group Barr Realwan Okpanachi stated this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
Okpanachi who said that the Tinubu-Wike proposed alliance was a good omen for the APC, added that Wike’s step was justified.
Confirming the talks between the two sides, he said, “We can confirm to you authoritatively that Wike and his team met with Tinubu in London to discuss strategic alliance ahead of 2023 presidential election.
“Both leaders appreciate the need to work together to ensure that Tinubu becomes the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.
“The question is, is Wike justified to take this particular step? The answer is capital yes. What do you expect from a governor that has given everything to sustain the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) only to be slighted compromised and embarrassed by the same party and its leaders/officers?”
Okpanachi further said that Wike was equally taking the step to ensure his political survival after 2023 election.
“Wike is old and politically experienced and savvy enough to make his decisions.
“He is entitled to take any necessary step or measure that will guarantee his political survival after 2023 elections.
”There’s no better way to do it than forming a strategic alliance with Tinubu ahead of 2023 general elections.
“There is nothing in PDP for Wike anymore. He has lost his bearing and goodwill in the party.
“The political conspiracy against him in PDP is huge and unprecedented,” he said.
Wike had on Monday with some of his allies reportedly travelled to London to meet Tinubu for critical talks on their political future.
The delegation reportedly comprised of some PDP governors and other major personalities in Wike’s camp.
The talks with Tinubu were sparked by the internal crisis in the PDP following the PDP presidential primaries which Wike believes was skewed against him after one of his rivals returned after the speeches to endorse Atiku Abubakar.
He was also said to have recently given the party some conditions for an amicable resolution of the crisis.(NAN)
A former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang has send a warning to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to work with Nyesom Wike ahead of the 2023 presidential.
Wike and Atiku have been at war since the conclusion of PDP presidential primaries.
Rivers State Governor, Wike who came second during the presidential primaries, fell out with Atiku after he picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
Reacting to the crisis Jang cautioned Atiku against ignoring Wike.
He spoke in Rivers State during the flag-off of the construction of Omagwa internal roads in the State.
According to Jang: “I want to call on our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to close ranks with all members, particularly members of your (Wike) group of which I’m proudly one. Doing this will guarantee victory in 2023 general elections.
“These men and women, as I have said, worked hard to build this party and they cannot just be wished away overnight.
“We need to come together, settle our differences by recognising that you need each and every one of us for you to win the general election.”
Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu has said Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is only playing mind games and will not dump the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to join the main opposition party.
There had been disagreements in the PDP since the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.
The governor is widely believed to be angry that Atiku settled for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate.
But Momodu believes Wike will not abandon the party because he is a principled politician, adding that he is just playing mind games.
“For me, governor Wike is a very principled man; if there is one thing he has been consistent about, it is his love for PDP; I believe he will not leave PDP.
“He is playing a mind game and he is good at it. What shall it profit him if he joins APC?” Momodu asked on a Channels TV programme on Monday.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Jerry Gana, said Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers is not challenging the outcome of the party’s presidential primary.
Gana, who is also a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party said this in a statement he issued to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
“Our attention has been drawn to some fake news, making it necessary to issue this firm statement.
“News in the media that Wike has commenced legal proceedings challenging the outcome of the 2022 PDP Presidential Primary, is totally false.
“We unequivocally state that Wike has not and will not challenge the outcome of the just concluded PDP Presidential Primaries in Court.
”He has long moved beyond such an action to focus on matters of how best to ensure victory for the PDP in the forthcoming elections. ”
Gana also described as false reports alleging Wike had instructed the removal of the ceremonial PDP flags and insignia from the Government House and Governor’s Office.
He said: “This again is totally false and misleading. The Rivers State Governor never gave such instructions.
“It appears that some forces within and outside the party are expressly opposed to the reconciliation moves between Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Wike.
“Such malicious efforts will surely fail by the grace of God.
“Let me assure all party faithfuls and supporters that we are strongly determined to ensure the success of the current reconciliation process.
“Building a stronger and more united Peoples Democratic Party is our priority as we move towards the 2023 General Elections.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has justified why he did not pick the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike as his running mate
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Friday morning, Atiku said he only picked who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.
He said, “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious.
“Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.
“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”
On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to the governor.
“We are reaching out to Wike and talking to him, very soon, we will resolve our internal crises.
“I have contested this presidency a couple of times and I don’t try to blame anybody, I accept the outcome or go to court,” Atiku added.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike was technically rigged out of the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Igo Aguma revealed.
Aguma, a former Chairman of the Rivers All Progressives Congress, APC, who is now a member of PDP made the revelation during an interview in Port Harcourt.
He said, “We were poised to win. We were technically rigged out. We saw a proper conspiracy. When they had said everybody was given 5 minutes to talk and we now saw a long interlude, the next thing we heard is there is a special announcement to be made and his Excellency, Governor Tambuwal walked out and made an announcement, stepping down for Atiku, making a speech longer than 5 minutes, that’s the rigging. It was choreographed.
“Technically, the stepping down and ability to announce it has a sweeping effect. If he was to go there and communicate that he was stepping down, it won’t go round. And then the stepping down, the way it was announced and the speech that preceded it was as though there was a directive from somewhere.
“One thing that has come out from there is that our experience has become deep and wide. We have come to understand how divided this country actually is. We have come to understand that we in the South-South do have a long way to go.
“If we use to think that the South-East has an issue, we the South-South have a serious issue”.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has opened up after losing the PDP primaries to Atiku Abubakar on Saturday saying, Atiku Abubakar should be wary of those running around with him as they have no votes to offer him.
He said, Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal ought to have not spoken twice as it was a clear violation of the primaries guidelines.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the PDP presidential aspirant disclosed this while appearing on a national television program on Monday.
He said: “Tambuwal should not have spoken twice. He should have spoken when all aspirants were given an opportunity to speak.
” Speaking twice and campaigning for an aspirant violated the guidelines and procedures of convention but I have taken it as God’swill. I will not fight PDP”
“I told Atiku when he came to see me this morning that some of the people following him do not have votes or followership in their states. It is not by these people following you up and down. When the time comes, they should deliver”
“I saw a sitting Governor dancing after the declaration of results. He was dancing but could not bring one delegate to the convention”
“I have never seen how people can violate procedure and guidelines. Apart from when we were given the opportunity to speak, no aspirant was supposed to campaign on that ground. This our party shouldn’t be destroyed.”
“In 2019, I was the only Governor in the South-South that did not negotiate with the APC government. The President got 25% in all South-South States except Rivers.”
“Leave history for those betrayals of their people, history will judge them.”
“Before they underrated us, now they won’t underrate us again. We used this one to tell them that enough is enough. We made them not to sleep, we made them not to eat. We made them to know that we are somebody.”
“I cannot be a second-class citizen in my own country. I dare not. Some of them their in-laws are Governors in the opposition party. Why must you control me? They were looking for who to control and I said No”