Atiku confident of uniting the PDP after holding meeting with Wike in London hotel

FORMER vice president and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is hopeful that his election campaign is back on track again after he met with party rebels led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in London yesterday.

In late June, the PDP elected Alhaji Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election at its annual convention. Governor Wike was a candidate in that election but he was beaten into second place and to make matters worse for him, he was not then picked as the party's running mate.

With Alhaji Abubakar opting to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, Governor Wike has been on the war path and there are now fears that he will dump the PDP. Among other things, he has been fraternizing with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  lately, amid talk of him possibly decamping.

On Tuesday this week, Governor Wike met with the APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in London along with several governors. After that, along with PDP governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie  Ikpeazu of Abia State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Wike then met with the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Sensing the need to act decisively, Alhaji Abubakar decided to fly into London to meet with Governor Wike and his team in person to resolve any lingering issues. Yesterday, the two sides met and according to a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, the PDP was taking the right steps to resolve its problems.

Mr Omokri tweeted: “We are united and Governor Wike is a much loved member of our party. Those expecting to see us splinter will wait until winter comes to Nigeria.  I welcome the reunion."

However, one other party member added: “I love what I’m seeing but still not convinced until Governor Wike himself says that he has reconciled with Atiku and there are no more issues. We have had enough of photo , however, this is a right step in the right direction."

Following the meeting, Alhaji Abubakar warned his supporters and other PDP stakeholders to desist forthwith from making statements that are capable of compromising the ongoing work towards further strengthening the party and bringing all its leaders together. He warned them against manufacturing false divisions within the PDP.

Alhaji Abubakar added: "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, to desist from making comments that potentially reduce the optics of the party 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 APC 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 PDP to lead the charge in ousting the ruling party. This expectation from the people is the reason why the APC is jittery of 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 appeal to every true member of the PDP and anyone who truly wishes the success of the 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 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.”