Should Atiku Mend Fences With Wike -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The post convention crises which is brewing in the opposition PDP will slim the party’s chance to dislodge the ruling party in the forthcoming general election, unless concerted efforts are put in place by stakeholders to address it. Many Nigerians are puzzle on what fuels this crises, after a successful convention? Since the emergency of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate, the PDP governors, who thought one of them would fly the party ticket were unhappy with the outcome. Though, the governors and other contenders have agreed to work for the victory of any one that emerges, the choice of Atiku’s running mate is what has raised the dust or believes to be the genesis of the crises. The opposition PDP’s desperation to return to power discarded zoning and threw its contest open among the six geo-political zones. APC, having zoned its ticket to South, left opposition PDP with only one viable and strategical option, that is fielding a northern candidate who will challenge it’s strong hold. With president Muhammadu Buhari rounding up his tenure next year and Atiku Abubakar’s good performance in 2019 general elections, he remains the formidable candidate to give APC the run of its money.

However, the question which remains in the lips of many Nigerians is: how Atiku Abubakar running mate, governor Okowa, emerged? Immediately after the former vice president won the primary election and became the PDP flag bearer, he constituted a committee and give it mandate to search for credible running mate. As reported by some national dailies, the selection committee organized a poll which Nyesom Wike secured 16 votes against Okowa who scored only two votes. Surprisingly, Atiku Abubakar picked Governor Okowa of Delta State instead of Wike who became second in the party’s primaries. Why has Atiku opted for Okowa not Wike? Some political analysts believed that, governor Okowa, during the convention helped Atiku to win the election. It was reported that, Delta’s delegates cast their votes to Atiku not Wike. Besides, in 2019,Wike is believed to have worked against the emergency of Atiku and openly supported governor Aminu Tambuwal of sokoto state. Other qualities Atiku must have considered before settling for Okowa are, his exceptional traits. It is believed, he is quiet and very OBIdient leader who will be a good VP. But, Wike is being accused for being rude and garulous. The fear of Atiku is, Nyesom Wike neither believe him nor his candidature.  If he picks him and the party eventually wins, Wike will not respect him.

For his colleagues and other sympathetic party stakeholders, Wike did not deserve this treatment. Reasons. He is a strong leader who used his resources to sustain and put oxygen to PDP when it was gasping for dying. Nobody can deny the facts, Wike has paid his dues for the survival of PDP during its turbulent times. When many members abandoned it and honeymoon with APC in 2015,Wike and his estranged godson, Uche Secondus did everything possible to sustain the party. There is no gainsaying the facts, Wike will be angry for not being considered as running mate. What has further indicated all is not well with the opposition party is the inauguration of PDP gubernatorial candidate of Osun state, where only two out of twelves governors attended. The hosting of opposition leaders by Wike has sent wrong signal that something is fishy in the party. And, with the news milling around, he followed Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of APC to France, Wike is likely to leave the party sooner. While Atiku Abubakar has assured supporters that the party will resolve the current impasse, it needs to do it quickly. The current revolt by PDP governors as we head to 2023 elections fort end danger to the party. PDP should call an emergency meeting where both Atiku, Wike and other aggrieved governors will iron their differences and resolve them amicably.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state.08169056963.