… There seems to be an end to the crisis rocking the opposition political party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
… Wike Finally Settles For Atiku, Set To Announce Him As Choice Presidential Candidate
Finally PDP G-5 Governors Reveals Preferred Presidential Candidate
In what appears to be an apparent change in stance, three aggrieved state governors elected on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are set to announce their decision to rescind their hardline position against their party and its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Sources within the party who spoke with Saturday Telegraph during the week said the decision of the three governors might not be unconnected with the current stalemate within the ranks of the G-5 Governors over who to back apart from Abubakar for the Presidency among contenders jostling for the position in other parties.
The five governors alongside other chieftains of the party have in the last few months called for the sack of National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, from office citing the need to balance power within the party.
Collectively they have formed a group called the Integrity Group to press home demands. They (members of the Integrity Group) have found it increasingly difficult to reach a conclusion on the alternative to the Adamawa State-born presidential hopeful, prompting some of them (members) to reconsider their stance on the issue.
According to a competent source within the party, three of the governors have been reaching out to the leadership of the party as well as Abubakar to express their readiness to work for the party during the presidential election. “I can confirm to you that they have been sending emissaries to Waziri from time to time.
This action is due mainly to efforts of stake-holders who have continued to make strenuous efforts to resolve the crisis within the party,” the source said. The source who pleaded not to be mentioned listed the affected Governors ‘that have opened talks’ with the party to include Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia). “I am very confident that their decision to this effect will be made known to the country and the party very soon,” the source said.
When pressed to state what the stance of the other two governors namely Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers) are, the source simply said, “For now, the two of them have proven to be hard nuts to crack because they are still sticking to their guns.” Another source close to Abubakar who also pleaded not to be named due to what he considered as a very sensitive nature of the issue confirmed that, “I know that a lot of talks are ongoing on both sides and they (the talks) are yielding positive results.”
He added that stakeholders from the two sides have stepped in “to bring everybody along on the same page and things are looking good for the likely resolution of the crisis very soon.” According to him, the change of attitude is due to prevailing local politics in their respective states which could prove fatal for them considering the fact that many of their supporters are vying for other offices under the banner of the PDP.
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“There is no way they won’t yield because of the local politics within their states. Many of them are currently under intense pressure from candidates contesting for other political offices and they (the G-5 Governors) are coming to terms with that reality,” the source said.
This is as the leader of the G-5 Governors of the party, and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has approved the venue for the campaign rally of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.
Wike said approval has been given to the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for the campaign of the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the State.
The governor, however, explained that the approval granted, at no cost to the Presidential Campaign Council, is that the Stadium will be accessible to the council 48 hours to the February 11th, 2023 presidential flag-off campaign in Rivers State.
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Governor Wike, who disclosed this while speaking at the campaign flag-off rally by the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council in Oyigbo Local Government Area on Friday, said the Director-General of the PCC in Rivers State, Dr. Abiye Sekibo has no right to take possession of the stadium one month before the date of the stipulated event.
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He warned Dr. Sekibo not to provoke the Rivers State government by desperately wanting to take possession of the State-owned stadium weeks to the campaign, or else the approval will be canceled.
“Let me also use this opportunity to warn Abiye Sekibo. We have made approval for your presidential candidate to use Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, on February 11th. You have no right to begin to go to the stadium now. We cannot give you access to the stadium now. We can only give you access to the stadium two days to the occasion for you to prepare.
“Nobody gave you one month. So, if you dare it again, to go and force yourself into the stadium, I will cancel the approval with immediate effect. Dare it again, I will cancel it. Heaven will not fall. In fact, if heaven falls now, we will be happy that it was in our time heaven came down.”
The governor wondered why Dr. Sekibo was acting against the approval given to him and said it appears that he is finding a reason to blame in the event that the rally fails.
“I know you are not ready to do that rally. You are only looking for an excuse. But you must do it. I know you are going to import people, no problems, go and import. We have given you the stadium.”
Governor Wike also took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for blaming the crisis that greeted the campaign of its governorship candidate in Mile one Diobu, Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The governor stressed that APC became a victim to the brewing crisis between the two factions in Rumuwoji community because they did not address their demand adequately.
Otherwise, Governor Wike wondered why APC did not encounter crisis with their rallies when they used the Tipper Park in Etche Local Government and the IYM secretariat in Ikwerre Local Government.
The governor asked them to stop complaining if they are not ready for the forthcoming general election because the PDP in Governor Wike mocked Senator Andrew Uchendu, because despite serving in several administrations, he failed to attract development project to his Mgbuitanwo community. According to him, it was his administration that contracted Julius Berger to construct internal roads, fitted with street light in Mgbuitanwo.
The governor stressed that the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, in collusion with the immediate past administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, sold the State gas turbines and diverted $50 Million from the State account.
Governor Wike said the APC governorship candidate is now facing criminal charges with the state government demanding from him to refund the $50million, which it wants to use for development projects.
“Go and bring our money back. We want to use the money to develop the people of Oyigbo, to develop the people of Rivers State.”
The governor further accused the APC governorship candidate of masterminding the killing of scores of persons in Abonnema by the military during the 2019 general election.
The Rivers State governor told the Oyigbo people to know that the PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, will continue from where his administration will stop and consolidate on the gains made already.
In his address, Rivers State PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, issued stern warning to Mr. Tonye Cole, to focus on his campaign and leave him out of his affairs.
Sir. Fubara insisted that his administration, when elected will follow in the footsteps of the outgoing government on the slogan of continuity and consolidation.
According to him, he will build on the infrastructural development secured by the Wike’s administration in Oyigbo, sustains the gains in security, provision of quality educational infrastructure, creates conducive business climate to promote small-scale businesses, while improving on the quality of life of the citizenry.
Director General of Rivers State PDP Campaign Council, Felix Obuah, said Governor Wike has done so well and Fubara will consolidate on his achievements.
Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Desmond Akawor, presented the flag of the party to candidates contesting the various elective position.
Senator Barinada Mpigi, who spoke on behalf of the candidates said they are fully ‘Sim-plifed”, willing to serve the interest of their constituents and the state at large. He said they will do all that Governor Wike has asked them to do.
Former leader of Oyigbo Legislative Assembly, Mr. Ebe Owulo said the projects delivered by Governor Wike in Oyigbo have collapsed the opposition party in the area.
