Blessing Iruoma, Port Harcourt
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has accused some members of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Working Committee, particularly the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu of stirring crisis in the party as a result of his alleged governorship ambition.
The governor warned that the PDP should be wary of agents of the APC, whose stock in trade is to cause division and destabilise the party.
Governor who stated this while speaking as a guest on the Africa Independent Television’s Programme, Focus Nigeria, in Port Harcourt, stated that some of alleged troublemakers were former governors and ministers.
He cleared that he did not have problems with a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar and was not aware if Atiku wanted to contest the Presidency in 2023 because PDP was yet to zone the Presidency to any part of the country. the resolution of the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has allayed his initial fear of possible implosion in the party.
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Wike noted that the manner in which PDP governors and Board of Trustee members resolved the crisis has given Nigerians hope that the party is prepared to takeover the realm of power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.
Also, the Rivers State governor explained that it was not uncommon for a political party to experience internal squabble in view of the forthcoming poll and varying interests, but commended PDP governors for coming together to speak with one voice to end the differences.
“I use to be afraid of possibility of an implosion and that could have been the end of the party. But what I saw on Monday gave me a lot of confidence for the first time. I have never seen that happen, the way the governors came together and spoke in a convivial manner with no dissenting view. I was impressed.”
On personal disagreement with the National Chairman of the PDP, Governor Wike stated that his primary concern had been to salvage the PDP from an impending doom occasioned by an inert leadership.
The governor continued, “Everybody believed that whatever the national chairman was doing was dictated by Wike and must have the backing of Wike.
“I believe when you support somebody, support him to succeed. But when things are also going wrong, if you don’t speak out, people will believe you are part of it. Therefore, I owe it as a duty to say things are not going right.”
