Tobi Adebayo
That Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike was schemed out of emerging as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, despite being the party’s frontline choice, is well known to many Nigerians.
A source who spoke with THISNIGERIA said that it was a “grand conspiracy” spearheaded by some political forces and clinically effected by the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
“Atiku obviously did not want Wike to be his running mate, despite selling a dummy that he was open to the three candidates including Wike. For a long time, it was obvious there had been a no-love lost relationship between both men dating to 2018-2019 presidential primary in Port Harcourt where Wike backed Tambuwal. Atiku had never really liked Wike, but merely played politically expedient relationship with him.
“There were other factors that conspired to deny Wike the No.2 ticket of the party; like the pervasive influence of some Northern Oligarchs and Feudals who were brainwashed to believe that Wike would be ‘uncontrollable’ as the country’s Vice President.
“Some retired Generals of Northern origin, including an ex-Military Intelligence Chief, were part of those that pressured Atiku not to pick Wike. According to them, power must not be given to someone who allegedly hates the North and could gain access to the number one office in the future.
“They have had it in for Wike since he fought against the collection of his state’s Value Added Tax (VAT) by the Federal Government and his belief that Nigeria must encourage states to harness their resources and generate revenues.
“Also, the Northern Oligarchs believed that the Rivers Governor is allegedly ‘anti-Muslim’ due to the ‘phantom demolition’ of a mosque in Port Harcourt which had been refuted even by Northerners in the state. Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi came and saw it was all silly propaganda,” the source said.
EXCLUSIVE: Atiku jettisons PDP Committee report, picks Okowa as running mate
The source stated further that the Presidential Candidate set up the Screening Committee of notable party members, even when he had his mind zeroed in on Okowa “as a decoy” but also made Ayu, his long-time ally and associate to ensure that Okowa emerged as his running mate.
“Ayu was doing Atiku’s bidding but under the wraps,” THISNIGERIA’s impeccable source stated. “The Committee strongly believed that Wike would deliver more votes for the party compared to Okowa. Wike was the party’s choice but he cannot be a puppet, which the powers-that-be do not like,” the source added.
THISNIGERIA reported hours before the Vice Presidential Candidate screening exercise scheduled for Thursday, June 16, that Atiku had jettisoned the Committee’s report to pick Okowa as his running mate for the 2023 Presidential election.
Reacting to Okowa’s emergence, a Twitter user, @ogbenidipo tweeted: “Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, with all his alleged brashness, will be remembered as a man who fought a good fight in the PDP, a man who built infrastructure in his state, a man who is not a coward, and a man who doesn’t betray his political associates.”
@burmese_tyga tweeted: “Atiku was looking for a southerner to boost his ticket….didn’t trust Wike so he went and got himself Okowa. Are you guys sure Atiku wants to be president at all? He might just be running every four years as an exercise.”
@novieverest tweeted: “I was expecting PDP to solidify the SS with Wike. The second option would have been Udom Emmanuel. But they went with Ifeanyi Okowa because they wanted to take from SS and SE. It played right into the hands of Peter Obi and the Labour party. APC and PDP are aiding Peter Obi.”
@drpenking wrote: ” Wike is a Lion who has so much influence in south-south Nigeria and he is actually a performer which no one in Nigeria can deny. Who hasn’t heard about Wike’s flyovers? That guy would have pulled votes in South South.”
@ddharuna wrote: “In my opinion PDP picked the wrong candidate as VP. I take politics seriously that’s why I prefer a hardened politician like Wike… Wike has made name for himself unlike Okowa. I wish us all the best.”
