The Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, met with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in London on Thursday as part of efforts to resolve the crisis between the two.
The PUNCH gathered that Atiku pleaded with Wike to support him in the 2023 presidential election.
A close associate of the governor, who confided in The PUNCH, stated that the former Vice President had agreed to meet all the demands of Wike.
Earlier on Thursday in London, the United Kingdom, former President Olusegun Obasanjo met with Wike in a move aimed at building broad support for the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Besides Wike and Obi, allies of the Rivers State governor, including governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, were also at the meeting.
The relationship between Atiku and Wike deteriorated a few months ago after the PDP presidential primary, which Atiku won.
Atiku reportedly shunned the recommendation of a PDP committee, which recommended Wike, who came second at the presidential primary, as the running mate. Wike became resentful after Atiku chose Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
Although the PDP set up a panel to reconcile the two men, Wike insisted on the removal of the party’s Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The meeting of the peace committee comprising loyalists of Wike and Atiku ended in a deadlock in Port Harcourt on Friday, as the former Vice-President’s men did not grant the request of the governor that Ayu should be removed.
Atiku’s delegation reportedly rejected a demand that the PDP presidential candidate serve only one term if elected.
A highly reliable source at the meeting between Atiku and Wike in London stated that the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, accompanied the former Vice President to the meeting.
Although the source did not specify Wike’s requests, he said Atiku had agreed to meet all the demands of the governor.
The source stated, “He (Atiku) has agreed to meet all demands. He will sign an undertaking on all the agreements. Once he is able to meet them, the Wike group is ready to work with him. The details will be made known.”
Earlier on Thursday, The Punch learnt that associates of the Rivers governor expressed their preference for the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, over Obi.
Wike and the former Lagos State governor met in London on Monday.
The former APC running mate placeholder, Ibrahim Masari, on Wednesday confirmed that Tinubu met Wike, adding that they would continue to meet in due course.
“The meeting was basically on the 2023 presidential election and by God’s grace, we are going to work with Governor Nyesom Wike. He will assist and we are going to win the election with ease, by the will of God,’’ he told the BBC Hausa from London.
Wike’s meeting
According to him, Wike does not have to leave the Peoples Democratic Party before working for Tinubu.
Tinubu, who has faced heavy criticism for his preference for a Muslim-Muslim ticket, is seeking to bolster his chances in the February 25 presidential poll by luring Wike to his camp.
A member of the Rivers governor’s camp confirmed the meeting between Obasanjo and Wike on Thursday and disclosed that it was about the 2023 presidential election, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press on the matter.
When asked by The PUNCH if there was a possibility of an Obi/Wike alliance, the source said, “Obasanjo is working on that, but many of us (Wike’s camp) prefer Tinubu.”
Shedding more light on the camp’s preference, he added, “Tinubu has a political structure and base. Although Obi is ‘Obidient’, he doesn’t have a structure and base. Obi’s candidacy will only rub off on the PDP’s stronghold.”
Another close associate of the Rivers State governor told one of our correspondents in confidence that Obasanjo based his support for Obi on the need for the South-East to produce the next president.
The source, who was privy to what happened at the meeting with Obi, stated, “You know Obasanjo; if he believes in something, he works for it. His presence at the meeting was to convince Wike to support Obi. He believes the Labour Party’s presidential candidate is competent.”
