The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike have finally met after months of cold war.
This is as the party instestified its plan to defeat the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that of Labour Party, Peter Obi in the coming 2023 general elections.
Recall, since the party’s presidential primaries where Atiku emerged as the PDP 2023 Presidential candidate, some members who are not happy with the process and outcome have stayed off party affairs.
Contributing to the internal rancour was Atiku’s choice of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as running mate over Wike who was reportedly favoured by the committee saddled with that responsibility.
This did not go well with the Rivers state governor and his colleagues – Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
In its effort to reconcile the two, the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) had on Wednesday set up a committee headed by its Chairman, Senator Walid Jibril.
However, Wike and Atiku according to a reliable source met behind closed doors in Abuja, on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at the Asokoro residence of the former minister of information, Professor Jerry Gana on Thursday.
According to the source who does not want his name mentioned in print, “Only the two of them met behind closed doors. But I’m aware they agreed to jointly set up a peace committee to further look into all issues as soon as possible.”
The source said that they both resolved that the outcome of their committee will be subjected to the final approval and ratification of a larger committee of the party.
Another source also said, “The meeting was a very cordial one. Both parties have resolved to let peace reign and caution their loyalists against attacking one another in the media”.
Meanwhile, former and serving spokespersons of the PDP restated their confidence in the National Chairman, Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and the National Working Committee (NWC) in running the affairs of the party.
This was contained in a communique read by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, at the end of the NWC interactive meeting with former National Publicity Secretaries, State and Zonal Publicity Secretaries and other key stakeholders Thursday in Abuja.
According to Ologunagba, they have confidence in the capacity, experience and competence of Atiku to rescue, redirect and rebuild Nigeria to earn the respect of the International Community.
The communique partly read, “We believe that only the PDP under the leadership of H.E Atiku Abubakar has the capacity to protect and secure the lives and properties of Nigerians as well as rebuild the economy of the nation in such a manner as to put food on the table.
“We commit to remain loyal and integral in the mission of the PDP to make all sacrifices necessary to achieve success in Rescuing, Redirecting and Rebuilding our nation from the misrule of the APC.”
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