The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated terms for his to reconcile with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar.
This was as the Board of Trustees of the party has stated its intention to wade into the face-off between both men.
The chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, who revealed this in a statement, said the members will meet in Abuja on Wednesday to address the disagreement between Wike and Abubakar over the emergence of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as the vice-presidential candidate of the party.
Jibrin said in the statement: “I notice with great concern what the PDP primary elections of Atiku Abubakar and the appointment of Chief Okowa as president and vice president is unnecessary causing confusion among some PDP members.
“May I point out that very strongly that there is no any problem as being envisaged by some people in our great party the PDP.
“I want to assure everyone that all plans are on ground to bring all members together as one and united, as what is happening in PDP can never be compared with the situation in APC especially their plans in trying to bring Religious issues of Muslim-Muslim president and vice president.
“I have also noted that some groups are coming up trying to solve the issues of Okowa as vice-president. The latest group include some former governors of the party and the current governors, some BoT members and elders including prof Jerry Gana, the chief spokesman of the group governors Wike, Dankwambo, governors of Enugu and Abia states, former governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi state.
“The aim of the group is to reconcile aggrieved especially Wike. Interestingly, the BoT the highest advisory body and the conscience of the party are meeting on Wednesday 3rd August to discuss the issues accordingly by coming up with strong recommendations with the special committee for the special reconciliation of aggrieved members, especially Governor Wike.
“After the BoT meeting, we will meet with and Wike and all aggrieved members and all past presidential aspirants.
“It is my prayers as Chairman of BoT that the PDP will remain strongest and win all elections in 2023.”
Sources equally revealed that Wike will be heading to the meeting with his list of demands.
According to insiders, his team had put together the list over the weekend during a meeting.
Among the demands is the resignation of the party National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Wike’s camp is arguing that it is not plausible to retain Ayu because of his perceived preference for Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the PDP from the time the former Vice President indicated interest in the race.
It is also argued that it is not justifiable for the party to have both the National Chairman and presidential candidate from the same region.
The camp then demanded for a Southerner to take over from Ayu to balance North-South power sharing formula.
Wike is also going to the meeting with the BoT with a demand for a written agreement on what his camp will stand to benefit if Abubakar eventually emerges the president in 2023.
Sources said the demand will include producing the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and some Principal Officers of both chambers.
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