Aprivate meeting between the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, which was held in London, United Kingdom, has unsettled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Wike, who came second during the presidential primaries of the PDP has been at loggerheads with Atiku following the selection of the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the vice presidential candidate of the party.
Spirited efforts by the leaders of the party to persuade Wike to key into Atiku’s project have hit the rock, Daily Trust reports.
Instead, the Rivers State governor has upped his romance with the chieftains of the ruling party and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Analysts believe that this development will heighten the anxiety in the camp of the former vice president.
Reliable sources close to both Tinubu and Wike confirmed that the two personalities met on Monday in London, where issues revolving around the presidential aspirations of the former Lagos State governor were extensively discussed.
A source in the campaign council of Tinubu said the meeting, which he described as “fruitful” was attended by six persons, three from each side.
On the part of the APC presidential candidate, he said Tinubu, the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, were part of the parley.
Several media sources such revealed that Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom and Ikpeazu Okezie of Abia state are also in attendance.
The delegation, made of some PDP governors and influential politicians within Wike’s camp, were said to have departed the country at the weekend.
Although the reasons behind the meeting remain unknown, it has however been suggested that it might be related to the horse-trading saga within the embroiled Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
Prior to Monday’s meeting, the ruling party had attempted to cash in on the crisis in the PDP over the presidential primary won by former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, which left Wike aggrieved.
On July 8, three APC governors, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State visited Wike at his Rumueprikon country home in Port Harcourt, as part of moves to woo him.
The PDP had set up a reconciliation panel to resolve the crisis between Atiku and Wike but that has proven abortive.
According to him, from Wike’s side, two governors who are of the PDP, Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) attended the meeting.
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“It was a fruitful outing from our end. Further meetings would be held,” the source said, saying he should not be quoted.
A former minister in Wike’s camp, who also confirmed the meeting, said there was nothing wrong with the parley, saying Atiku is also meeting with APC governors.
“Atiku is also meeting with some APC governors, why are they complaining? What is good for the goose is good for the gander. It is all part of the game and nothing more,” he said in a phone interview last night.
It was learnt that two things are being ironed out, whether Wike should dump PDP and join the APC or remain in PDP but work for the APC at the presidential election.
In the 2019 presidential election, Atiku polled 473,971 votes against Buhari’s 150,710 in Rivers State.
A former minister of works and chieftain of the APC, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has advised Wike to consider working with Tinubu, noting that he should not remain where he is not appreciated.
When contacted, a spokesperson for Atiku, Paul Ibe, declined comment on the matter.
To douse the tension in the PDP, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, expressed optimism that the feud between Atiku and Wike would soon be resolved.
“I still maintain my stand that PDP is a democratic and national party that caters for all Nigerians, it’s not sectional but loved by all Nigerians. As a PDP BoT chairman, I must say the truth and nothing but the truth no matter any criticism I don’t fear anyone.
“Therefore, I will never accept any unholy criticism by anyone. I will remain in PDP until my death. I still maintain that the BoT is eagerly waiting for the report of the reconciliation committee headed by the governor of Adamawa State and Professor Jerry Gana, thereafter, the BoT will thoroughly discuss it and inform the public accordingly no more, no less,” he said.
