2023 Presidential election: Atiku heads for London to settle rift with Wike
…As Buhari vows to support only APC candidates
… Wike will work for APC, Tinubu — Masari
Abimbola Abatta
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has headed for the United Kingdom in an attempt to sort out the issues between him and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
According to sources close to the former Vice-president, he will meet with Governor Wike today.
The source revealed, “The PDP presidential candidate headed for London today (Wednesday) after arriving Paris yesterday (Tuesday). He is billed to meet with Wike tomorrow (Thursday) in an attempt to resolve the issues between them.”
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that PDP has been in a state of confusion since its presidential primary election in May 2022 after Atiku clinched the party’s ticket.
The crisis was escalated after Atiku chose Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta, as his running mate.
Party stakeholders had expressed concerns that Atiku ignored Wike, who was said to have been preferred by a majority of the PDP’s national working committee (NWC) members as the candidate for the position.
Atiku’s desperate move to reconcile with Wike is sequel to presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu’s meeting with the Rivers Governor in Paris, France.
My support is only for APC candidates — Buhari
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that his support, in the coming elections, is for no other candidates except those fielded by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The President maintained that he remains a ‘disciplined soldier’ of the ruling party.
He warned decampees and some others who are still in court against official candidates of the APC that they are on their own, adding that nobody outside the party should link what they are doing to him.
President Buhari disclosed this in a statement by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The statement read in part, “The Presidency wishes to put it on record, and at the same time, reassure faithful party members that President Muhammadu Buhari remains a ‘disciplined soldier’ of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“And will, in all the coming elections, support only those candidates fielded by the party and no other.
“This is a warning to decamped party members and some others who are still in court against official candidates of the APC that they are on their own and nobody outside the party tent should link what they are doing to President Buhari.
“The President wishes to be quoted as saying that he is the occupant of the high office of the President by the Grace of God who used the instrumentality of the APC to bring him to power with a historic verdict in 2015.’
“In 2019, he was returned with a bigger majority. For the first time, a non-PDP government came to power with a huge majority after 16 years of the Fourth Republic.
“His constant refrain is `I will not betray or undermine my party by supporting candidates other than those of the APC.’
“However, our stand is clear that only those candidates fielded by the APC will enjoy the support of the President and they are the ones he will campaign for.
“However, we welcome support for our candidates at all levels by other parties.
“The President said he will continue to support the party at all levels to enforce discipline, synchronisation and coordination.”
In a related development, a close associate of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim Masari, yesterday, claimed that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike will work for Tinubu in 2023.
Masari, who confirmed that Governor Wike met with Tinubu in London in an interview, added that the Rivers State Governor does not have to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to help APC Candidate.
Speaking on the reason for the meeting, Masari said, “the meeting was basically on the 2023 Presidential election and by God’s grace, we are going to work with His Excellency, Governor Nyeson Wike, he will assist and we are going to win the election with ease, by the will of God.
“This is because Wike is a big politician, a Governor and he has control in some other states apart from his state. He is good to the people and has associated with his people peacefully. By the grace of God, he will be of help to us.
“If you could remember, it was APC that caused the failure of APC in Bauchi, it was members of the party that led to the defeat of the Governor from their party. In Adamawa too. So, what I want people to understand, someone can still assist you even without joining your party if he wants to.
“Furthermore, with the widespread acceptance of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Nigerians, I can assure you by the will of God he is going to win the election, with or without help. But there is the Hausa adage which says even if you’re beautiful, you should add to it by taking bath. So it’s not only about Wike, we are also talking with many other Governors.”
