Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike has met with some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who coordinated his presidential campaign.
The Sunday meeting was held behind closed doors at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Although the agenda of the meeting was unclear, it might revolve around the events that have unfolded in the aftermath of the PDP presidential primary that threaten to split the main opposition party.
Those at the meeting include Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Also present are some former governors such as Donald Duke of Cross River State, Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State, and Jonah Jang of Plateau State.
Mr Wike came second in the presidential primaries that produced Mr Atiku as opposition party’s flag bearer in Abuja.
The duo parted ways when Mr Atiku picked Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate, instead of Mr Wike who was reportedly recommended by some members of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).
On Saturday, Mr Wike said he was angry with PDP Atiku Abubakar because he lied against him and sent his associates to insult him.
Wike said contrary to reports, the former vice president was yet to begin a reconciliation move despite claims on pages of newspapers that a committee had been set up to meet with him.
In an interview with Arise TV last week, Atiku said he opted for Dr Okowa instead of Wike because he wanted someone that could “deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country.”
He said, “Governor Wike was not rejected. Nobody was rejected in the party. But you must understand that it’s the prerogative of the candidate to pick his running mate — a running mate he believes he can work with amicably, and then also deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country,” Atiku said.
“Governor Wike is a brilliant politician. He’s courageous, tenacious. I believe he has a future in the political evolution of this country. It’s not a question of rejection. Certainly, not. I think it’s too harsh a word to say that we rejected governor Wike. Certainly not.”
In a bid to address the perceived grievances of the governor, the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the PDP set up a reconciliatory committee to meet with Mr Wike over the fallout of the party’s presidential primary and crisis trailing the nomination of a running mate.
In his reaction to Atiku’s interview on Monday, Governor Ortom said in his verified Twitter handle that the PDP’s internal crisis will be settled amicably.
Mr Ortom said, “I will not contradict Atiku on what he said. He is my candidate and I am behind him.
“Whatever happened in the course of the primaries and nomination of the Presidential running mate is now a thing of the past.
“PDP is a family, and we will always settle our matters in-house.”
