By Olusegun Olanrewaju, Tobi Adebayo, and Ben Ogbemudia
In the loaded camp of Nigeria’s leading opposition political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it appears that the attainment of peace is still far on the horizon.
Yesterday what seemed to be a golden chance to reach a landmark reconciliation failed to materialise in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The gladiators, who were billed for a meeting to iron out their grounds of objections between the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, failed to meet for dialogue.
*Wike’s team: ‘How can a reception be more important than a reconciliation meeting?’
Even though a new date has been picked for a reconciliation meeting (Friday), a source in the Wike team, who spoke to ThisNigeria, said the meeting failed to hold due to the failure of Atiku’s team to show up in Port Harcourt.
“We were already set to hold the meeting today. People had travelled from far and near for this reconciliation meeting, only for Atiku’s team to send a message at the last minute that they would be absent for the meeting due to the homecoming reception being held for the presidential candidate in Yola today.
“They claimed that they thought the meeting was scheduled to hold this Friday, hence their decision to attend a homecoming reception instead,” the source said.
He added, “This development has riled up some of the people who have been putting efforts into ensuring peace among the two politicians as they feel disrespected by Atiku’s team.
“This has also shown that they (Atiku’s camp) have no interest in ending the crisis rocking PDP any time from now, because what is more important? Restoring normalcy to the party, or a homecoming event that could have been held at any other given time? We will keep our fingers crossed, but this is not encouraging at all.”
Wike berates traitors, says he is a fulfilled leader
*’We had a homecoming reception for the presidential candidate in Adamawa’
But defending their absence, a source in Atiku’s camp stated that it was due to the homecoming event, adding that they looked forward to honouring the meeting on Friday.
ThisNigeria reported that the meeting is part of efforts to reconcile Wike and Atiku as it is being rumoured that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is making overtures to the oil-rich governor of the South-South state to join their camp.
According to a member of the House of Representatives representing Rivers State, Solomon Bob, the rift between Atiku and Wike was triggered by disinformation.
He added that it was the disinformation put out by ‘Atiku’s men’ before and after the party’s primary that contributed to the crisis that rocked the party.
Some of the disinformation, he said, included the claim that the governor was unsatisfied with the results of the party’s primary, and wanted to be named the running mate of the presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, Atiku assured Nigerians that he has no other agenda but to serve the people.
He said this at an event where thousands of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state decamped to the PDP.
According to the PDP presidential candidate, if elected he will tackle the various challenges confronting the country and ensure that there is peace, progress, and abundance as well as create wealth for the country.
Atiku was received by a mammoth crowd at the Mahmud Ribadu Square in Yola.
It was the first time he was returning to his hometown after emerging as the flagbearer of the PDP in the presidential primaries held in Abuja.
From the Yola International Airport, he proceeded to the Lamido of Adamawa’s Palace for a courtesy call before heading for the mega rally where thousands of APC supporters, including two state lawmakers, decided to defect to the PDP.
In his remarks, the national chairman of the PDP Iyorchia Ayu, while receiving the defector, assured them of level playing ground.
The Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, said PDP in the state has delivered on its campaign promises and will do more.
Atiku, who started his address in the Hausa dialect but switched over to English, appreciated the tremendous support he has been getting from the state, stressing that the event is not a campaign but to receive defectors.
Also present at the rally were Atiku’s running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, former vice-president, Namadi Sambo, former Adamawa State Governor, Boni Haruna, former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, Senator Adamu Maina and Senator Dino Melaye.
*Friday is new date
Party members are waiting with bated breath that the new Friday date will materialise. This, they say, would determine the fate and trajectory of the PDP, which has nearly been split in the middle by the crises that trailed Atiku’s choice of Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the presidential running mate, instead of one of the main financiers, Wike.
*Ayu denies resigning from office
In the meantime, as the Atiku-Wike tussle is swinging the opposition party, the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, is gutted by allegations and counter-allegations of resigning from office.
Ayu yesterday vehemently denied a news report that has written a resignation letter.
Reacting to a report that was carried by some media houses (not ThisNigeria), his special adviser on media and communication, Simon Imobo-Tswam, restated that Ayu has not resigned, and indeed, has no plan of resigning from office.
He said for clarity and emphasis, the national chairman was elected for a tenure of four years.
“The attention of the PDP National Chairman has been drawn to sponsored stories in the news media today.
“The stories purported that the PDP national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has resigned. They further add that his purported resignation letter is with an ex-Senate President, David Mark.
“Our Reaction: We state, with all emphasis, that this story is, in its entirety, false, baseless, reckless, inaccurate, and a complete work of fiction. If there is such a resignation, it exists only in the imagination of those who have made themselves available for hatchet jobs.
“If Dr Ayu had resigned, he would have given his resignation letter to the Deputy Chairman (North); not Senator Mark. Section 45 (i and ii) of the party’s constitution is clear on this.”
The rebuttal added, “So, where does Distinguished Senator David Mark come in here, being that he is not even a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC)? It appears that those who have been procured to blackmail the national chairman out of office are not even aware of what the party’s constitution says about the matter.
“We are shocked that such reckless, vicious, mischievous, and fabricated falsehood can find prime space in the mainstream media.
“But even more shocking is the fact that otherwise, respected media houses have made themselves easy platforms for unscrupulous people to peddle falsehood and run smear campaigns, once the fee is right.
“The fact remains that those who have been procured to write falsehood against the national chairman, and those sponsoring the same are investing in expensive illusions.
“The national chairman is on a crucial assignment: to lead the PDP on a historic rescue mission, come February 2023. And he will not be deterred or distracted by media terrorism or political blackmail.
“Sections 45 and 47 of the PDP constitution are clear on the removal and/or resignation of the national chairman. Those who don’t know this should get copies of the party’s constitution for more information on the matter.
“PDP members and the general public are advised to ignore any stories of such a phantom resignation.”
