With about 26 days before the official campaign for the 2023 general election, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, Bode George, Fidelis Tapgun, Debo Ologbunagba, have appealed to Wike, and Ayu to unite for the victory of the party.
Newsonline reports that the appeal of the party stakeholders followed the crisis between the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu over Atiku Abubakar’s presidential candidacy.
Recall that since the last May presidential primary of the opposition PDP, the trio of Wike, Ayu and Atiku have failed to come to terms.
Though Atiku had made efforts to reach out to Wike on Thursday last week to ensure peace between the two, peace seems to still be afar.
Wike on Thursday at the inauguration of Omerelu internal roads in Ikwerre Local government threatened he would help the PDP lose the 2023 election.
The governor’s latest rage followed Ayu’s interview with BBC Hausa on Tuesday in which he said, “I didn’t commit any offence, I’m only reforming the party so I’m not bothered with all the noises. I know I’m doing my work and I didn’t steal any money so I see no reason for all these talks. When we started PDP, these children were not around. They are children who do not know why we formed the party. We will not allow any individual to destabilize our party.”
The statement of Ayu, which Wike understood as insult to him and his camp, including governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Ikpeazu of Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, was responsible for the latest war of words.
But on Thursday at the inauguration of Omerelu internal roads by a former South-West Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George, Wike said the action and utterances of Ayu could jeopardize the party’s fortunes in the 2023 elections.
Bode George said, “Party members from the South are already feeling alienated. PDP is not a private company. So, before we start the presidential campaign at the end of this month, the national chairman must go to the South.
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“That is what Governor Wike is saying and as a life member of the Board of Trustees of our party, I support this position 100 percent.
“Statutorily, it is the national chairman who hands over the party’s flag to our presidential candidate. How will party members from the South feel when they see that at all political rallies Southerners have no public political representation?”
He added, “But we can only go back to Aso Rock if we are united and not divided. Some people are abusing Governor Wike; he is a troubleshooter. Those abusing him, as an elder and as a father in this party, I am directing them; they must stop immediately because Governor Wike is only fighting for injustice, for equity, for fairness in our party.
“He is not only a strong pillar in this party but a mobilizer, a financier and an actualiser. Since he joined the PDP, he has not left this party. I’m also a founding father of the party and since 1998 I have not left this party.”
A former Governor of Plateau State, Fidelis Tapgun, who also reacted to the war of words between Ayu and Wike on Thursday, said, “I think what the PDP national chairman and the Rivers governor said was wrong. They should not have said such things publicly because they are leaders.
“What we need in PDP at this time is unity of the party and not crisis, especially as we are entering into the 2023 election. So our leaders should learn to conduct themselves in ways that will help the party achieve its aim to emerge victorious during the forthcoming poll.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologbunagba stated, “We recognize the contribution of every member of this party. What is key is that the entire leadership of this party has agreed on one thing and that is, the Nigerian issue is the big issue including Governor Wike. How do we rescue and rebuild the country?”
He assured supporters of the party, “I can speak authoritatively that the party is solid, the party is moving ahead with its programmes, it is moving forward with its mission to rescue and rebuild Nigeria.”
