As the internal crisis ravaging the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepens, party leaders, Attahiru Bafarawa, former Sokoto governor; Iyorchia Ayu, embattled national chairman; and Babatope Ebenezer, Board of Trustees member, seem to be giving up on appeasing Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers State.
Newsonline reports that the reaction of the PDP chieftains followed that statement of Wike at the inauguration of internal roads at Ikwerre local government on Thursday.
Wike had in a reply to a statement by the national chairman, Ayu, said he and his team would help the party lose the 2023 election.
Ayu on Tuesday, in a BBC Hausa interview, said he would not allow children to destroy the party.
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 the 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 destabilise our party.”
A statement Wike interpreted that statement of Ayu as arrogance and threatened that the presidential candidate of the party Atiku Abubakar and the PDP will lode the February 25 presidential election.
READ ALSO: Shettima Is A Golden Fish, Right Man For Tinubu – Sanwo-Olu
Speaking to a national daily on the threat of Wike, Special Assistant Media to Iyorchia Ayu, Simon Imobo-Tswam, said he will not say anything on what Wike said, He said he is still in the dark.
He asked, “Did he (Wike) say so? I am indisposed, so I am in the dark about this. As it is, I can’t say anything now.”
Attahiru Bafarawa, former Sokoto State governor, said Wike could become whatever he wants to become.
Bafarawa maintained that Ayu remains the leader of the party and must be followed by all including Wike.
He said, “We have our leader, our leader is our party chairman. He is the custodian of our party, so if any of the sons become whatever he wants to become, all of us are also sons like him. So, we have to wait to hear what the parents have to say.’’
Chief Ebenezer Babatope, was, however, straight on cautioning Wike over his utterance on Thursday.
He lamented that after reaching out to Wike by party leaders, he went ahead to threaten the party.
He said, ‘’I’m surprised that Wike is behaving this way. We have appealed to him and he still wants to go ahead and work against the party; so good luck to him.’’
