Says something will happen soon
How meeting with Tinubu in London flopped
Tension heightened on Monday within the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, doubled down on the crisis buffeting it and thus kept the leadership of the party and its teeming followers guessing on what is next for it.
Speaking on Monday in respect of the crisis rocking the party, Wike said nothing has happened yet but “something will happen” soon.
Wike declared that he cannot be threatened by anybody because he would always do the right thing no matter the “gang up” or blackmail.
He spoke during the flag-off of Eneka internal roads in the Obio-Akpor area of the state.
In his words, “Anybody who knows me knows that once I have made up my mind and I believe that what I am doing is right, if you like, let the whole people team up, as far as my conscience is clear, I will do what is right at all times; It doesn’t matter any gang up.
“All of us should be calm, you’ve heard what is happening in PDP. Nothing has happened yet but by the grace of God, something will happen.”
Meanwhile, The Point gathered from credible sources in the APC how last week’s London meeting between the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and Wike flopped.
It was gathered that the meeting was not a successful one as Tinubu was alleged to have declined committing to all of Wike’s conditions precedent to working together during next year’s presidential election.
Wike and his friends, Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), had met in London with Tinubu to consider the possibility of working together.
It was gathered that after Wike allegedly tabled his demands before Tinubu, soon after their discussions, the former Lagos State governor was said to have failed to commit to any of his demands and explained why he could not accede to his terms.
According to sources at the meeting, Tinubu believed Wike’s demands were largely unrealistic and way above what he could realistically bring to the table.
For instance, Wike was said to have demanded that the APC candidate “ensures if he wins the presidential election, which comes first, he will ensure he does not influence the outcome of the governorship and House of Assembly polls in Rivers, Benue, Oyo and Abia States, so that candidates in his camp and those of the other governors could win maintain control of the states.”
“He also wanted assurances that their men should be allowed to win Senate and House of Representatives seats, including the governors contesting senatorial elections. There was no headway on this demand either, since the presidential and National Assembly elections would take place on the same day.
“Tinubu, however, didn’t make any commitment and that was a red flag for Wike. The APC candidate only said, yes, he could look into the demands for Rivers, but he cannot do the same for Oyo, Benue and Abia; that it would be very difficult and will not want to come across as deceptive,” sources privy to the meeting said.
The sources said Wike wanted Tinubu to force the APC candidate in Rivers State, as well as those of Oyo, Abia and, especially, Benue, where the APC candidate, a cleric, is believed to be very popular, to drop their ambitions.
But Tinubu failed to commit to the demands, except for Rivers, which he promised to look into.
According to credible sources, Wike and the others left the meeting with Tinubu disappointed.
A crisis of confidence has been rocking the PDP since it held its national convention in late May at which former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, emerged as the party’s flag bearer.
Wike has been unhappy over the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Atiku but all the more angered by his being snubbed by the candidate in the choice of running mate.
Atiku had announced that he found Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, very suitable as a running mate contrary to the decision of the committee set up by the party to help in the choice the party should make.
The committee had suggested Wike as the best bet out of Okowa, Wike and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State.
While the crisis continues unabated, Wike has met with Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Bola Tinubu.
Wike also held meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as well as APC ex-presidential aspirant and governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi.
He had maintained that all the consultations were in the best interest of the country.
Speaking on his arrival from Europe at the VIP Lounge of the Port Harcourt International Airport on Friday, Wike said, “We believe that what is going on will be in the interest of Nigerians at the end of the day.
“Consultation is still ongoing. Nothing we have said now has been concretised.
Discussions are going on.”
Many APC chieftains have been invited to Rivers State to inaugurate some strategic projects by him to the chagrin of the chieftains of the opposition party.
His camp has been unyielding in its demand for the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, as a condition for peace in the party.
