Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party‘s (PDP) presidential candidate, is reportedly under pressure from his supporters to call Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike‘s bluff.
According to Insightnaijatv, Atiku and Wike are at odds over efforts to remove the PDP’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, and the fallout from the party’s primaries.
Divisive remarks are still being made to media despite the pair’s agreement to refrain from doing so.
Reconciliation between the two sides has begun, but Atiku’s supporters have criticised the governor’s remarks, saying they seemed purposefully slanted to keep people guessing.
The former vice president should “move on and concentrate on strengthening the party ahead of the 2023 elections,” according to Atiku’s supporters.
A party leader was quoted as saying to Vanguard: “It is heartbreaking that this situation has carried on for so long.
“All parties agreed the last time to stop making further incendiary remarks.
“It was borne out of this that Atiku caused a statement to be issued by his media team urging his supporters to bridle their tongues, but this act of goodwill is not being returned in kind. This is quite unfortunate.
“I must say at this point that Governor Wike has made up his mind about what he wants to do. Bending over backwards to accede to everything he has asked for will be shooting ourselves in the foot.
“Personally, I rather we cut our losses, move on, and concentrate on building the party ahead of the 2023 elections.
“We made significant inroads in Kano with the defection of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and his teeming supporters. These are the kinds of things we should be celebrating.”
“My interpretation of the situation is that there are other local concerns in Rivers politics that are being pushed to the national level,” a different party insider added.
“With all due respect, the governor’s remarks seem purposefully twisted to leave everyone guessing. The fact is that we cannot wait indefinitely; something must give.
“The truth is that whichever decision you take in politics, not everyone will be happy or accept it for one reason or another. Our presidential candidate has demonstrated good faith.
“However, it will be disastrous for anyone to contemplate a leadership change at this time, the issue of anyone removing Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman before the election does not arise.”
Another PDP claimed that the former vice president’s supporters are not pleased with how the governor’s recent remarks have made them feel about him.
The source, a former NWC member, claimed: “Wike is sending them (Atiku’s camp) signals that he will work against him. Wike has information that some Atiku supporters do not want the PDP presidential candidate to accede to their requests.
