It is believed that there is an uneasy calm in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over the romance of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP).
Recall that Governor Wike’s hope to become the running mate of the PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was dashed on June 16 when the latter picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State against the recommendation of the party’s advisory council on the running mate selection.
The council had reportedly recommended Governor Wike who came second at the May 28 presidential primary with 237 votes against Atiku’s 371 as the running mate.
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Multiple sources in Wike’s camp said he had been livid with the way he was ‘edged out’.
Since Atiku picked Governor Okowa, the Rivers State governor has been romancing with chieftains of the APC and the LP.
The latest development is believed to have made Governor Wike’s private residence located at Ada George Road, in Port Harcourt, a beehive of activities.
First to have visited Governor Wike was Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, on Sunday, followed by a former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Wednesday. Governor Bala Muhammed of Bauchi State had also visited him.
It was gathered that Governor Umahi and Mr. Obi’s visits were to woo the Rivers State governor to their parties, while that of the Bauchi State governor was to placate him.
Since he lost the PDP’s presidential ticket and the position of the running mate, Governor Wike has not made any public statement.
An ally of Governor Wike said his anger was amplified when Atiku and the party jettisoned the recommendation of the Advisory Council.
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He said, “We’re weighing all options. It’s unfortunate that the party that refused to implement the recommendation of its committee on running mate will be talking about constituting a reconciliation committee. Who will take them seriously?”
He said a crucial meeting of the Governor Wike’s camp earlier scheduled for this week had been shifted to next week. “All options are being weighed,” he repeated.
Another source close to Wike said he was still angry with the way he was treated by the party leaders during the selection of the running mate.
“The Bauchi governor was sent by Atiku and his group to appeal to Wike not to leave the PDP; while Ebonyi governor and Peter Obi visited to see how they could woo him to join their political parties.
“His silence on national issues has sent jitters across the PDP’s family and they’re not comfortable.
“They’re afraid that having treated the governor badly, he might defect to another party. That was why the Bauchi governor came to appeal to him on behalf of Atiku,” the source said.
Governor Wike’s media aide, Kevin Ebiri, said there was no official statement on the visit of high-profile politicians to his boss.
