As part of efforts aimed at stemming the crisis threatening to tear the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) apart, a meeting between representatives of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and those from the camp of Governor Nye- som Wike of Rivers State will hold today in Abuja.
The venue for the reconciliation could not be established as of press time, but sources said the governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri will be leading other PDP leaders, including Honourable Adamu Waziri, Honourable Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), a former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke and Jide Adeniji from the camp of Atiku.
On the side of Wike are a former minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Bello Adoke; a former minister of information and national orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, Ex-Governor Donald Duke of Cross River; ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and ex-Governor Ibrahim Dankwanbo, of Gombe State, among others.
The meeting came as five PDP governors led by Wike have jetted out of the country at the weekend to France, ostensibly to fine-tune strategy in the ongoing feud between Atiku and the first runner-up in its party presidential primary.
With him on the trip, whose destination is believed to be Paris, France, are his core supporters in the PDP Governors Forum, Sam Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Uguanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
All of them have withheld their support for Atiku following the perceived humiliation Wike allegedly suffered in the hands of the former vice-president, who bypassed him to choose his Delta State colleague, Ifeanyi Okowa, despite the recommendation by the committee set up to help the presidential candidate arrive at a suitable running mate.
The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the governors flew out of the country over the weekend to discuss their strategy in a conducive atmosphere following the setting up of a reconciliation committee to explore ways to resolve the nagging differences between Atiku and Wike.
Despite endorsing the committee headed by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Wike has continued to express displeasure at the vibes emanating from the camp of the candidate.
Findings revealed that his anger stemmed from the way Atiku has broken into his camp and poached some of his most loyal supporters, particularly in Rivers State.
Some PDP chieftains in the state, who were seen as the governor’s core loyalists, including a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Okpara and former senator, who represented Rivers East, Lee Maeba, have now aligned with Atiku against their state governor, drawing his ire.
This has added a new twist to the feud with Atiku’s camp, even though remaining confident of a resolution of the differences, is unsure of what the governors might come up with from the meeting in Europe.
“Wike is angry that some of his men came to join Atiku without his permission,” a top party source revealed to the Nigerian Tribune, but assured that the issue is being resolved. It was learnt that notwithstanding his outwards posture, the Rivers governor has made no demands from the presidential candidate, setting anxiety into Atiku’s camp that has been left guessing as to how to placate him.
The governors are expected to return to the country on Monday.