Supporters of the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have given an “irreducible minimum condition” for reconciliation in the faceoff between them and the leadership of the main opposition party.
The pro-Wike camp said the PDP national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, must go, insisting also that they should be allowed to choose his successor.
The supporters of the Rivers State governor urged former Senate President David Mark to speak up on the post-presidential primary election crisis. They alleged that Mark was with Ayu’s letter of resignation.
Those demands came ahead of today’s meeting of a six-man committee comprising representatives from the camps of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Wike, for reconciliation talks.
But Atiku, in a statement yesterday, painted a gloomy picture of the country, stating that the statistics on Nigeria’s current position is grim and disappointing.
Nonetheless, a group within the opposition party, ACTION 2023, declared that a federal administration headed by the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, would simply amount to another term for President Muhammadu Buhari, a situation unacceptable to the Nigerian constitution.
A source, who was a member of the previous National Working Committee, NWC, of PDP during the Uche Secondus tenure, said, “By ensuring the removal of Ayu, Atiku can be said to have shown that he has the capacity to keep to the agreement of inclusiveness, trust and avoid any victimisation of the supporters of the Rivers State governor.”
Speaking exclusively with ThisDay, the source, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has betrayed the confidence of the Rivers State governor, Wike. Nigerians know that Wike would have won the ticket, but for treachery. He lost the presidential ticket and the chances of becoming the running mate to the presidential candidate due to treachery.”
According to the source, “Wike has lost twice. He wants to be a stakeholder in the presidential campaign. So, we want the office of the national chairman, because of what we will be bringing on board. Wike has a lot to bring on board. He has capacity.”
The source also alleged the PDP national chairman had already signed a resignation letter.
It said, “What is Ayu bringing to help Atiku? He should resign if he has honour. After all, he signed the resignation letter that he will resign if the presidential candidate comes from the north. The letter is with David Mark. David Mark should speak out.”
The source explained that the purpose Wike was inviting APC chieftains to inaugurate some of the projects he executed was to show the world that he had capacity and had a lot to contribute to the party.”
It added, “Defecting to another political party is not on board.”
The source, who played an important role in the sack of Secondus, added, “Wike lost the presidential ticket and the running mate position. He is asking for the office of national chairman. If Atiku is sincere, he should allow Ayu to go. He can appoint him as his chief of staff, if he wants to earn the trust of Wike and his supporters. We have a lot to contribute.”
