Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was conspicuously absent on Wednesday when the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party met the 2023 ex-presidential aspirants of the party at his Asokoro residence in Abuja.
Aside from Wike, also absent are former Senate Presidents Bukola Saraki, and Pius Anyim, as well as Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State.
However, in attendance at the meeting include Dele Momodu, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Tari Oliver, and Charles Ugwu.
Atiku commended them for accepting the outcome of the convention that produced him as the PDP flag bearer, and for not raising the dust.
He promised to work with all of them ahead of the 2023 general elections, adding that they have various roles to play in his victory at the polls.
Earlier, Atiku met with a delegation from Niger State led by former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana.
In his remarks, Gana said they were in Atiku’s house to congratulate him and to assure him of their support as well as a commitment toward ensuring that he wins Niger State.
Gana also disclosed that the ongoing reconciliation between Atiku and Wike is yielding success.
Channels Television reports that Wike hosted his ally, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, in Rivers where they commissioned the Emohua Campus of the Rivers State University in the Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
At the primary in May, Atiku polled 371 to defeat his closest rival, Wike, who polled 237 votes.
Following the outcome of the primary, Wike has been at loggerheads with Atiku over his choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate. Wike has also demanded the resignation of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, for a southern replacement.
Meanwhile, Governor Makinde, has said that the group loyal to his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Wike, would continue to insist that the right thing be done amid the crisis rocking the PDP following the outsome of the party’s presidential primary election which produced Atiku Abubakar, as its flag bearer for the upcoming 2023 general elections.
Gov. Makinde who spoke during the commissioning of the Emohua Campus of the Rivers State University subtly chided the PDP national Chaiarman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, for describing all those calling for his resignation as “children,” saying that the country needs “children” in positions of leadership given the numerous projects executed by Gov. Wike, and some other PDP governors in their respective states.
