In his submission, another Rivers lawmaker, Dagomie Abiante, described Wike as an asset to the PDP, which Atiku failed to realise and utilise.
He stated that the governor “deserved much more” than the VP slot, adding that he is better than Okowa “in every respect.”
Abiante said, “He has been a pillar to the party; he is the one speaking for the party and he speaks for the interests of the South. Okowa hosted southern governors across party lines.
“If you hosted them and they agreed that the president had to come back to the South if there had to be any change, it does not have to be from the person who hosted that meeting. There should be some level of morality in politics.”
The lawmaker added, “He had 237 votes (at the PDP presidential primary, coming second to Atiku), that simply means that 237 local government areas supported him. In the PDP, each vote represented one LGA. Is that not an asset?”
Speaking on the issue, a former member of the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, in an interview with The PUNCH, said if Wike dumped the PDP, Rivers supporters would follow him.
On what Atiku could do to address the threat to his aspiration, he said seeking forgiveness for wrongdoing was not out of place
He stated, “In my view, two things, reconciliation and if you think you have offended somebody, ask for forgiveness. Every religion that we know, stresses forgiveness.
“I don’t know what it is he (Atiku) thinks he can do for Wike at this time, except work assiduously, sincerely to get Wike and his friends to work for his victory. He is the one who needs them now, and he must do what is right. So sending emissaries, hiding behind the mask won’t solve the problem.”
“You need to walk up to those you want to lead. Demonstrate leadership. And if they are convinced by your body language, they will do what they should do to help you too. They are party men, they have said so,” Nwuke, a former Commissioner for Information and Communications stated.
He, however, explained that Wike had not said anything about his political future.
“Thus far, Wike has not said anything about his political future. He has not said anything negative about the party. That for me is evidence of his maturity. At the fullness of time, Governor Wike will speak for himself.
“I believe that he is the only one who can speak on his intent right now,” Nwuke stated.
A senior advocate of Nigeria, Onueze Okocha, described Wike as a party loyalist as far as the PDP was concerned, adding that the party must prevent the Rivers governor’s defection to win the 2023 polls.
He stated, “From the beginning when the PDP was formed, Wike was with the PDP and he worked for the PDP all through and has continued to do so.
Asked if Atiku could replace Okowa with Wike since there was still room for replacement, he said he would not make such a suggestion.
On his part, the Chairman of the Gokana Local Government Area of the state, Confidence Dekoo, said Atiku should be magnanimous in victory.
Dekoo, who spoke to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Thursday, said he would abide by any decision taken by Wike.
He stated, “First and foremost, all of us are politicians, and that every time after every primary or after every election, there is dignity in allowing every other person to have that sense of belonging that I have succeeded, but be magnanimous in victory.
“What he (Atuku) can do now is to come down to those who contested election against him. Don’t forget that, as all the former governors you mentioned said, he (Wike) is indeed a factor in the PDP today.
“Do you want to undermine a man like that that we all agree is a factor? You can only do that at your peril because you are contesting a general election and you need all hands on deck.
“So, my advice would be that yes, try and reach out. A phone call will not solve that kind of problem, but a visit, physical visitation.
“The leadership of the party, talk to him as well, and he will understand. But to think that you will act as if it doesn’t matter, no one man can do this thing alone.”
On whether he would follow Wike if he decided to defect to another party, he stated, “Whatever my boss does is what I will do.”
But the spokesperson for the former vice-president, Paul Ibe, in an interview with one of our correspondents, noted that the process for the reconciliation of all aggrieved persons within the PDP had commenced.
Ibe, who disclosed this in response to an inquiry from The PUNCH, stated, “I am sure you saw Atiku’s tweet? That’s the stand now. All other things will definitely follow. The process is not as easy as you think. It is not one plus one equals two. The process has started just like Atiku pointed out in the tweet.
Ortom, in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, explained why 14 out of 17 members of a committee set up by the PDP picked Wike.
He expressed dissatisfaction that Atiku did not meet with Wike before and after announcing his running mate.
Ortom said, “ My concern is that the overtures have not gone out enough to resolve the matter. Even, before the pronouncement, Wike should have been reached and made to understand the rationale behind the decision made. He would have accepted based on his love for the party. “
A former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, in an interview with journalists in Kaduna on Thursday, said Wike had the right to be angry.
He, however, advised Atiku to reach out to the Rivers State governor to explain why he picked Okowa.
He stated, “I won’t blame Wike For feeling bad because he has been one of the pillars of the Party. Let the Presidential candidate, Atiku, sit down with Wike to discuss issues because he is the only one that knows why he picked his running mate. The matter is resolvable,” he said.
A political analyst, Tonye Isokariari, described Wike as the party’s pillar, noting that he would have been “a strong vice president that will give the APC a run for their money.”
A lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu, said it was Wike’s prerogative whether or not he chooses to leave the PDP or stay, just like Peter Obi who left the party to be the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
- Leke Baiyewu, Lara Adejoro, Deborah Tolu-Kolawole, Temitope Omogbolagun, Solomon Odeniyi, Nathaniel Shaibu, Dennis Naku and Godwin Isenyo
