In a move to avert impending crisis, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up a nine-member committee to reconcile all aggrieved members in the party.
This is as some of the loyalists of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, have communicated to the party, their conditions for the resolution of the crisis in the country’s main opposition party.
The New Diplomat reports that the PDP had been in turbulent waters in recent times over the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the Vice-Presidential candidate of the party.
It would be recalled that the Presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had chosen Okowa as his running mate, even as several members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had initially endorsed Wike.
Since the development, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state had faulted Atiku for going against the will of the majority of the party members to choose Okowa as his running mate.
The governor had also demanded for an explanation from Atiku on why he ditched Wike to choose Okowa.
As the crisis over Atiku’s running mate worsens, the Chairman of the PDP’s Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, revealed that the party had set up a nine-member committee to beg Wike.
Jibrin revealed that the committee is different from the one constituted by Atiku few weeks ago.
According to him, the committee raised by the party is headed by Atiku.
It was gathered that the committee has already begun peace moves to pacify the aggrieved Governor and prevail on him not to leave the party.
Speaking with the members of the press on the matter, Chairman, Gokana Local Government Area in Rivers State, Confidence Deko, said Wike did not deserve the treatment he got from Atiku and the PDP.
In his words: “As far I am concerned, Wike has done so much for the PDP and I don’t think he deserves what the party gave to him. Come to think of it, Atiku Abubakar and the party asked the National Working Committee to find out who becomes the vice-president. A report was submitted and he (Atiku) ignored the report, and then picked Ifeanyi Okowa, the Delta State Governor.
“I am not saying he is not supposed to use somebody, but I am of the view that if he was part of those who asked the NWC to search for who becomes the vice-president to be, and they gave him their recommendation, he would have acted on it.
“But to me, it looks very odd that after submitting the report to him, he went and announced Okowa. I don’t think that Wike deserves what Atiku has done to him.”
Deko also said in order to avert the festering crisis Okowa should be replaced, Deko said the man was not joking.
He continued, “He has told you and you have heard the truth from him. If Wike was to be the vice-presidential candidate for Atiku, by now, you know Wike is a very practical person. And he does what his mind ask him to do.”
“The only option is to remove Okowa from there and announce Wike. In 2019, Wike brought the highest number of votes from South-South.”
