- As Ugwuanyi, Ortom, Makinde Absent At Osun PDP Campaign Council Inauguration
Following the emergence of Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as the running mate of the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a crisis has been rocking the party as many believed that the rejection of Rivers State Governor and a strong contender for the vice-presidential slot will further diminish the party’s chances of clinching the 2023 Presidential seat.
Indications that things are not well with the opposition party emerged when high-profile members of the party were absent during the inauguration of its campaign council for the Osun state governorship election
Conspicuously missing at the inauguration were Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia; Nyesom Wike of Rivers; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa; Godwin Obaseki of Edo, and Samuel Ortom of Benue.
Only the Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku who is the vice-chairman of the Duoye Diri-led Council, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and a few handfuls of the National Working Committee (NWC) members attended the event.
In an address at the inauguration, the party’s presidential running mate, Okowa charged members of the council to work hard to deliver Osun State to the PDP.
While calling for vigilance, Okowa said: “We are very much aware of the events that took place four years ago. There is no doubt that PDP won that election but unfortunately, we were cheated out of the election. As we move into another election, we are confident that if all of us stay committed to the party we will be able to deliver the victory for our party.
“Osun State obviously is a PDP state. We have great leaders who have a very clear understanding of the politics in that state.
“I want to urge all our leaders and our followers in the state to please quickly bridge the gaps of divide among us because victory stares us right in the face. God has gone ahead of us. It is for us to follow the wish of God and to deliver the state to the PDP.”
He admitted that there was still a lot of work to be done but expressed confidence that members of the council were equal to the task.
He appealed to members to ensure they were on the ground to support the party and its candidate during the election.
In his remarks, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagun, reminded members of the council that their main task is to deliver for the party.
“I believe with the calibre of people that have been selected to steer this campaign organisation, I have no doubt that you will give us the desired result,” he said.
Also, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Umar Bature said: “This campaign Council after inauguration will move to the field to make sure that Osun State is captured. As we are all aware, our victory in the 2019 elections was taken away, but we are more than confident this time around and it will be extremely difficult for anybody to take away our victory.”
Things took a worsening turn when Ortom, in an interview on ARISE TV, monitored by The New Diplomat, said Atiku needs to explain to him, Wike and other PDP stakeholders in the party why he jettisoned the recommendation of 14 out of 17 members of the committees that recommended the Rivers State governor for the slot of Vice-Presidential candidate of the party.
Ortom in an unveiled support for Wike praised the Rivers State governor as “somebody who stood for the party and made sure that things worked”, adding that “some of us believed in him” as the party’s best choice for the vice-presidential candidate.
“All of us have our weapon; Wike can be ‘something something’ but when it comes to mobilisation, impact, value addition and reaching out to make sure that the party works the man is an instrument. He’s somebody who stood for the party and made sure that things worked. Some of us believed in him, but unfortunately, it was somebody else. But the party is supreme,” he said.
He went on to disclose that he is “fasting and praying” for divine guidance before deciding to support Atiku in the 2023 elections.
He added that he will be supporting Atiku’s presidential bid only if God directs him.
“However, some of us have resorted to prayers. I have been in hibernation. We’ve resorted to prayer: ‘Lord God, where do we go from here.’ I believe as a Christian that power belongs to God. The Bible says a man can receive nothing except it is given to him from above.
“I am praying. I have gone into hibernation. I am fasting and praying. So in the end, if God directs me that I should support Atiku, why should I not do it? After all, he’s my party member. But I am waiting for him to do more. I expect him to reach out to Wike, who came second in the presidential primary. The man he denied the popular view of the PDP members — 14 out of 17 — said Wike should be the vice-presidential candidate. I expect more explanation. I expect him to talk to Wike — whom we are supporting — first. I expect him to reach out to some of us so that together we can work as a party.”
To further nail the coffin on Atiku’s ambition, another stalwart of the party and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, threw his weight behind a southerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Fayose, a member of the PDP, said the south must produce the next president in a bid to allow for equity and fairness.
He tweeted: “The PDP Constitution provides for a rotational Presidency. Section 3(c) provides that the Party shall pursue its aims & objectives by adhering to the policy of the rotation & zoning of Party & Public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.
“The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or nothing. Awa ‘South’ lo kan’.
With such polarization in the camp of the PDP, it is left to be seen how the party intends to navigate this bend and produce a united front in 2023.
