Finally, Atiku meets Wike in London, says Rivers gov working for PDP

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday evening finally met Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in London, the United Kingdom.

Four other state governors, namely, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa some of the guests that attended the meeting.

While Ortom, Makinde and Ikpeazu are Wike’s allies, Fintiri heads Abubakar’s delegation for peace talks with Wike’s team.

The meeting came hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), and Wike met in London.

This also after Wike and his associates had met with Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Atiku has pleaded with PDP leaders to refrain from making comments that could jeopardise the party’s unity.

In a statement issued by Paul Ibe, his media aide, Abubakar said Wike and his colleagues are working for the victory of the party in the 2023 elections.

The former vice-president said the PDP is united, adding that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is presenting a “false impression” that there is division in the party.

The statement read in part, “It has become imperative to appeal to all party members, leaders and everyone related to, connected with or associated with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar to desist from making comments that potentially reduce the optics of PDP’s image as a united political party.

“This appeal becomes necessary in order to call the attention of party leaders and members to the diversionary antics of the ruling All Progressives Congress which, in manufacturing a false impression of division within the PDP, aims to hoodwink the Nigerian public to overlook the monumental failures of the ruling party.

“Today, Nigerians look up to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the charge in ousting the ruling party. This expectation from the people is the reason why the APC is jittery about their impending fall in next year’s general election.  It is also the very reason why the ruling party is manipulating the political process to create a sense of division in the PDP.

“Because they know that there is nothing to campaign with from their records of performance in office, the APC has elected to play the role of the devil’s advocate, regaling in celebration of their imaginary invincibility upon a fraudulent claim that the PDP is divided.

“It is for this reason that appeals to every true member of the PDP and anyone who truly wishes the success of the PDP presidential candidate to not fall for the antics of the APC in making statements that could give credence to the false claim of divisions in the PDP.

“All the leaders of the party, including especially the governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Wike and all governors of the PDP are united in working for the victory of the PDP in next year’s general election across the board.

“What is at stake in the next year’s election is the future of Nigeria and all leaders and members of the PDP are on the same page in the mission to rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of the APC.”

Abubakar travelled to the UK on Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to reconcile with Wike amid the latter’s association with members of the APC.

Previous attempts by Abubakar to reconcile with Wike in Nigeria had not worked out.

The opposition party has been embroiled in crisis since the conclusion of its presidential primary election in May.

Wike had contested the presidential ticket, but he lost to the former vice-president.

Atiku had named Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election, which apparently angered Wike.

The division in the party worsened after Atiku granted an interview to Arise TV, during which he gave his rationale for overlooking Wike.

Days after the interview, Wike fired back, accusing the party’s presidential candidate of telling “many lies”.