The news that broke yesterday was the sudden appointment of 14,000 advisers, 319 wards and 40 Liaison officers by the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who has less than seven months to vacate his seat as two terms governor.
Newsonline reports that Wike’s appointment according to political analysts aimed at making his statement clear for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The crisis rocking the main opposition party, PDP, may not end as been taken without urgent measures.
A statement signed by the Governor’s spokesperson, Kelvin Ebiri, quoted Wike that the advisers will play a pivotal role in the administration.
According to Ebiri, “In addition to the 14,000 advisers, Governor Wike has also appointed 319 Ward Liaison Officers and 40 Local Government Area Liaison Officers.
“The appointments are with immediate effect.”
The appointment by Wike has descended silence on the PDP leadership and its presidential candidate.
READ ALSO: Fresh Crisis Brew In Labour Party Over Unveiling Of Peter Obi Campaign Organisation
Arising from the shock that the peace committee appointed by the party leadership to resolve the crisis between and his camp and the National Chairman, Ayu Iyorchia and the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, could not achieve its objective which led to the boycott of the Akwa-Ibom State campaign rally by Wike, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, among other stakeholders of the PDP from the South, Wike’s political appointment landed.
Political experts said Wike wants to make his statement clear again for the party leadership and the presidential candidate that unless the national chairman, Ayu resigns from his position, Rivers State which he commands cannot be won by PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, come 2023 election.
Professor of Law and political analyst, Abdul Mahmud, stated that Wike’s appointment was strategy to hold down all corners of the state to ensure to loopholes for the PDP and Atiku to penetrate.
Professor Mahmud said, “SAW -shock and awe- strategy Wike has masked with what appears as ridiculous appointments. Intent is clear: locked down Rivers with 14k men/women who’ll lead each ward unit of 10 members to supervise and organize each voting point in Rivers.
“You need to walk in the heads of some traditional politicians to understand how they build their firewalls and ring fences.
“Nigerian elections are the workshops of strategists and election-intelligence tacticians.”
Prof added that Wike’s strategy may succeed against the PDP and Atiku, its presidential candidate, but may be an advantage for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
“Wike is working at (in the tradition of French historians ) the “longue dureè” perspective of securing his homebase and shutting out internal and external threats long term. They’ll go Obidient without announcing it, to secure the base,” Mahmud said.
In a statement on the 7th of October, the embattled national chairman, Ayu Iyorchia, said his goal is to deliver the PDP at the polls in 2023.
Ayu spoke this while welcoming the Forum of Elected Ex-Officio Members of the party who paid him a solidarity visit at the PDP National Headquarters.
In his words: “The PDP was not founded to be in opposition. We founded the party to access power and develop the country. And my historic task is to return the party to power. I won’t be Chairman forever.”
“For now my preoccupation is to return the Party to power. I did not come to steal. My public service record is there.
“I have been a leader of the National Assembly. I have been a minister many times. As a person, I have many faults, but stealing is not one of them.
“I am conscious of my place in history, and the NWC that I lead is guided by the twin-principles of transparency and accountability.
“You may be reading many things and expecting my reaction. If we don’t always talk, it is because we want to maintain and build cohesion in the party. We don’t want continuous altercations in the PDP Family. Our eyes are on the big picture i.e.winning the 2023 general elections.” Ayu said.
“Therefore, let us not lose focus. Let us keep our eyes glued on the big picture. Everything else is secondary. We took office because there was crisis in the party.
And we don’t want to keep moving from crises to crises. It’s not good for the party.
“We can’t be in perpetual crises, especially where the crisis is artificial.
“The NWC met and discussed the issue of Housing Allowance. It was unanimously agreed that no bribe or any form of illegality took place. A statement has since been issued to that effect. The matter has now been laid to rest,” he added.
