Tobi Adebayo
A reconciliation meeting scheduled to take place today between Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s camp and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s camp failed to take place.
A source in Wike’s team, who spoke to ThisNigeria, said that 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.
“This development has really 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.
PDP reconciliation: Atiku, Wike team meet in Port Harcourt today
“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 held at any other given time? We will keep our fingers crossed but this is not encouraging at all,” the source said.
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.
According to a member of the House of Representatives, representing Rivers State, Solomon Bob, the rift between Atiku and Governor Wike was triggered by disinformation, adding 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 results of the party’s primary and wanted to be named the running mate of the presidential candidate.
