Politics
Tinubu’s meeting with Wike in London unsettles PDP, Atiku
Tinubu’s meeting with Wike in London unsettles PDP, Atiku
The meeting by Nyesom Wike, Rivers State governor, and Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate in London has rattled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar, its presidential candidate, feelers suggest.
Wike, a member of the PDP who was runners up to Atiku in the main opposition party’s presidential primary, has been at loggerheads with the former vice president following the selection of the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the vice presidential candidate of the party.
Attempts by the leaders of the party to persuade Wike to key into Atiku’s project have hit the rock.
Instead, the Rivers State governor has upped his romance with the chieftains of the ruling party and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Analysts believe that this development will heighten the anxiety in the camp of the former vice president.
PDP sources say the two personalities met on Monday in London, where issues revolving around the presidential aspirations of the former Lagos State governor were extensively discussed.
A source in the campaign council of Tinubu said the meeting, which he described as fruitful was attended by six persons, three from each side.
On the part of the APC presidential candidate, he said Tinubu, the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, were part of the parley.
According to him, from Wike’s side, two governors who are of the PDP, Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) attended the meeting.
“It was a fruitful outing from our end. Further meetings would be held,” the source said, saying he should not be quoted.
A former minister in Wike’s camp, who also confirmed the meeting, said there was nothing wrong with the parley, saying Atiku is also meeting with APC governors.
“Atiku is also meeting with some APC governors, why are they complaining? What is good for the goose is good for the gander. It is all part of the game and nothing more,” he said in a phone interview last night.
It was learnt that two things are being ironed out, whether Wike should dump PDP and join the APC or remain in PDP but work for the APC at the presidential election.
In the 2019 presidential election, Atiku polled 473,971 votes against Buhari’s 150,710 in Rivers State.
A former minister of works and chieftain of the APC, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, has advised Wike to consider working with Asiwaju Tinubu, noting that he should not remain where he is not appreciated.
“In politics, nothing is impossible. Political parties are always looking for numbers and value, and Governor Wike will add it to the campaign. He should consider working for the APC, especially considering that his efforts are not appreciated where he is,” he said.
Efforts to speak with the spokesman of the APC presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo, the Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign, Bayo Onanuga as well as Tinubu’s media aide, Tunde Rahman, proved abortive as they neither answer calls placed to their known telephone numbers nor respond to SMS/Whatsapp messages.
When contacted, a spokesperson for Atiku, Paul Ibe, declined comment on the matter, according to Daily Trust report.
Meanwhile, the key issue delaying the reconciliation of Atiku and Wike, according to party chieftains, is the demand for the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu.
The camp of the Rivers State governor was said to have reduced his demand for the resignation of Ayu. They argued that he was biased during the primary and that he pledged to quit if a northerner emerges as the presidential flag bearer of the PDP.
But a leader of the party said it would be difficult for Ayu to resign.
“A statement was issued last week, where it was stated that Ayu won’t resign. It would cause a lot of distraction now that we are strategising to defeat APC in 2023,” he said.
A former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George has insisted that Ayu must resign for peace to reign in the party.
In a recent interview with this paper, George recounted that Ayu promised to vacate his seat as the chairman, if the party produced a presidential candidate from the North, challenging him to let his word be his bond.
George also said the South is not interested in the position of the director-general’ of the Presidential Campaign Council, saying in the interest of equity, fairness and justice, the national chairman should vacate his seat for a Southerner to take over.
We’re working to resolve PDP crisis – BoT chair
To douse the tension in the PDP, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, expressed optimism that the feud between Atiku and Wike would soon be resolved.
“I still maintain my stand that PDP is a democratic and national party that caters for all Nigerians, it’s not sectional but loved by all Nigerians. As a PDP BoT chairman, I must say the truth and nothing but the truth no matter any criticism I don’t fear anyone.
“Therefore, I will never accept any unholy criticism by anyone. I will remain in PDP until my death. I still maintain that the BoT is eagerly waiting for the report of the reconciliation committee headed by the governor of Adamawa State and Professor Jerry Gana, thereafter, the BoT will thoroughly discuss it and inform the public accordingly no more, no less,” he said.
Breaking: Speaker Obasa Debunks Allegation Of Spending N17b On Assembly Gate
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday described the allegation that the House spent N17 billion on the fixing of a gate as spurious and funny.
A self-proclaimed group, Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, had accused the Assembly of spending the amount to construct a gate. The group also sought investigation of the claim.
Speaking at plenary, Dr. Obasa said the allegation stemmed from the fear of some people over 2027 which is still more than two years away.
Obasa further debunked the claim that the House spent N200 million on its recently organised 22nd thanksgiving service for staff.
“It is so funny. How much is the allocation of the Assembly in the whole year that we will decide to spend N17 billion on a gate? They even claimed that we expended 200 million on thanksgiving that did not hold.
“We are aware that at a period like this when we are approaching elections in 2027, we should expect such things. I think some people are scared and I don’t know why.
“This House did not and has not embarked on any such project. We are not that reckless. We had our thanksgiving last Friday and dignitaries from various parts of the State attended it,” the Speaker said.
Addressing further claims by the group about the alleged relationship between him and the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, the Speaker denied attending the latter’s screening and confirmation by the National Assembly.
“They said that I was at the National Assembly when they were confirming the EFCC chairman. I want to believe that there are CCTV cameras at the National Assembly to identify those who attended the event. The press must have written about it too. So the group should do more to confirm if I was there.
“This is just to deny the allegations in the interest of the public and not the writers because the writers are not those we should be joining words with,” the Speaker said.
Earlier, the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe, had addressed the allegations noting that the Assembly bases its activities on integrity, transparency and accountability.
“It is ludicrous the claim about constituency intervention funds and constituency project funds and their handling by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko as claimed by the group.
“One would have expected a self-acclaimed anti-corruption crusading group to do its groundwork before jumping across the fence with conviction that it hit a jackpot to malign an institution of repute in the name of politics.
“Simply put, the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have any such funds. The Assembly does not embark on constituency projects. Instead, once every year, the House holds stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously across the state where constituents have the opportunity to tell the lawmakers their expectations and make requests for the betterment of the state.
“These requests and expectations are compiled and sent to the executive arm of government for consideration as inputs in subsequent budgets. If this is what the group takes as constituency intervention or project funds, we are sure this explanation has given the required education, moreover, it is common knowledge that it is the responsibility of the Executive arm to execute such projects,” the earlier statement by Ogundipe read.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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