Ayu: I have no plan to quit PDP chair now

The peace talks between the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike suffered a setback yesterday because Atiku’s negotiation team did not show up.

The hitch was attributed to a traditional event in Yola, Adamawa State capital, which Atiku attended.

The peace meeting was scheduled for Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State.

Also, PDP National Chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu said he has no plan to resign.

He said he will not resign now or in the foreseeable future, having been given a four-year mandate to lead the opposition party.

There has been pressure on Ayu to resign in line with an alleged agreement he entered into, prior to his emergence, to step down if the presidential candidate emerged from the North.

Atiku won the party’s presidential ticket, with Wike coming second.

The Wike camp has insisted on the resignation of Ayu as a major condition to support Atiku in next year’s poll.

Also, Wike’s supporters have said that Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal should not be part of the reconciliation.

he camp also said that only a neutral panel should convene the meeting.

But Ayu, according to a tweet by his media aide, Simon Imobo-Tswam, said he will not resign.

The tweet reads: “The PDPNational Chairman, Dr. Iyiochia Ayu, has not resigned and has no plan of resigning.

“For clarity and emphasis, he was elected for a tenure of four years.”

Wike’s team, led by former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, was, however, angry that it did not get prior notice of the absence of Atiku’s camp.

Although Atiku’s camp rescheduled the negotiation meeting for Friday, Wike’s men were weighing options last night on whether or not to honour the date.

But Wike may take the final decision on the fate of the peace talks.

The Nation learnt that prior to the failed session in Port Harcourt, both groups had raised a seven-man team each to consider the terms for peace in PDP and collaboration for the 2023 poll.

Those in Atiku’s camp include Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (leader), Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), ex-Governor Liyel Imoke, Senator Ben Obi and ex-Governor Sule Lamido.

It was being speculated last night that a former governor of Kano State may join Atiku’s team, following his likely defection to PDP.

The Wike’s team comprises Mimiko (leader), former Senate President David Mark, ex–AGF and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), ex-Governor Hassan Dankwambo; ex-Governor Donald Duke, Nnenna Ukeje, one-time Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) boss Jide Adeniji, Sen. Olaka Nwogu and Mohammed Abubakar from Kano State.

Apart from the teams, both Atiku and Wike were expected to be on standby during the negotiation for consultation on terms agreeable to them.

Pioneer PDP National Publicity Secretary Senator Anietie Okon said only Wike can restore the party’s dignity and lead it to victory.

Also, a former federal legislator, Joseph Akinlaja, said PDP would have a big problem unless Wike is pacified.

It was gathered that since the traditional event would keep Atiku away, a shift of the session was mooted.

A source in Wike’s camp said: “We were all disappointed that the Atiku’s camp refused to show up after the two groups agreed on a common date.

There was no prior notice of absence, but we were later told that the meeting could not hold because Atiku went for a traditional ceremony in Yola.

“It shows that Atiku’s camp is not serious and it has demonstrated lack of interest in the peace talks. Their assumption is that Wike and his supporters are insignificant.

“We got to know from intelligence that they are feeling that they have secured Northern votes and we do not matter.

“We are all really angry that Atiku’s men can treat us like this. It is so unfortunate.”

An ally of Atiku admitted that the two groups had firmed up an arrangement to meet in Port Harcourt.

The source said: “Since Wike came to Abuja to meet Atiku the last time, we decided that our group will be in Port Harcourt for talks.

“But the event in Yola altered the arrangement. We learnt that since the visit was a homecoming for Atiku, Fintiri, who was to lead the negotiation, had to receive the PDP candidate. Apart from meeting with some emirs, Atiku also paid condolence visit to some families.”

Investigation showed that some forces in Atiku’s camp were shocked that the peace meeting did not hold

“To some of us, we felt bad that we did not keep faith with Wike’s camp because we mutually agreed on the date.

“We have advised those in charge of negotiation to rectify the situation because our words must be our bond.

“If those in Wike’s camp could fly from different parts of the country to Port Harcourt for the talks, we have no genuine excuse to be absent.”

There was no official statement from Atiku’s camp as at the time of filing this report.

Okon said only the Rivers governor can lead PDP to electoral victory in 2023.

Okon, who spoke with reporters in Uyo, suggested that Wike should also double as the national chairman of the PDP when Ayu is eased out.

He said Wike as national chairman would lead the party out of the shackles of confusion and give it a direction.

Okon said: “Wike has my support for the national chairmanship of the PDP.

“It is only Wike that can bring the party together again and strong as when it was founded to face the battle ahead of us in 2023.

“The solution to the crisis in PDP is for Wike to be made the National Chairman. He is the one that can lead the rescue team for Nigeria. With him, we will be sure of the direction to go.

“When Wike assumes office as the chairman, the party would be felt in every part of the country.”

The PDP chieftain criticised Governor Udom Emmanuel for picking Pastor Umo Eno as his successor, stressing that many persons were leaving the party to the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

“I’m happy that more Akwa Ibom people have realised that it is wrong to play on the intelligence of the people. It is apparently wrong to bring God into politics because so many people can come forward to profess communication with God.

“It is also good that the governor has recognised that he made a mistake. What makes a man is the ability to withdraw from such a mistake. Let him apologise to the people of the state and do the right thing,” he noted.

PDP should pacify Wike

Akinlaja said PDP would have a huge problem if Wike refuses to support the party.

He said Atiku should have personally visited Wike and other aspirants to forge a united front ahead of the election.

Akinlaja expressed pessimism that Atiku would accept the outcome of the ongoing reconciliation talks between Wike’s men and the party.

He also called on Ayu to toe the path of honour and resign as he promised before the party primary.

Akinlaja said: “I hoped that Wike does not refuse to support Atiku and the PDP. It will be a huge problem for the PDP if the matter is not resolved.

“It is sad that we, politicians, are always wiser with benefit of hindsight.

“When political parties lose elections, they would want to come together after testing their strength at the polls.

“There is no need for any committee because the results might not be accepted by Atiku. A 14-man committee picked Wike as running mate but the candidate said it should be Okowa and that deepened the suspicion.

“If I were the candidate, I would have visited the aspirants. Atiku would have visited other aspirants at the homes and pleaded for support.”

‘Why Ayu should resign’

On the call for Ayu’s resignation, Akinlaja said: “During negotiation, nothing is out of place since Ayu mentioned it himself that he will resign after the presidential primary. All the Southern governors agreed that the South should produce the next president.

“They conceded Ayu to be chairman, believing that it will be easy to argue that the presidential candidate should come from the South.

“The core PDP leaders wanted Atiku and Ayu had no choice but to make a statement that he will resign as a balancing act. His resignation was an action before the primary.

“Now that Atiku has emerged, nobody ought to have told Ayu to resign. He should have resigned immediately based on the understanding. He ought not to be controversial.

“They are now saying it is when the candidate emerges (wins the election) that he can resign. My opinion is different from the core party leaders opinion.

“The PDP will win in Ondo depending on reconciliation between Jegede and Mimiko.”

Credit- The Nation