The insistence of the representatives of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s that only the resignation of the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu will pave way for peace has become a stumbling block to the ongoing peace talks even as the two groups meet tomorrow to harmonise issues.
The last meeting was stalled because both groups refused to yield on the issue of Iyorchia Ayu who Atiku’s team say is not negotiable even as Wike’s men maintain his resignation is only precondition to proceed with the meeting.
It could be recalled that the rift between Atiku and Wike started after the governor’s ambition of becoming the party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections failed following the emergence of the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as Atiku’s running mate.
A member of Wike’s team, who spoke to the media on condition of anonymity, said, “Ayu has shown that he cannot be trusted, he once said that once a presidential candidate emerges from the North, he will resign. Now, he cannot honour his own words. Can such a man be trusted?
“Ayu should leave in the interest of equity and fairness. He has to go before we agree to hold the reconciliation meeting. He is not an unbiased umpire. He worked for Atiku.”
The meeting earlier schedules for Monday could not materialise because Atiku’s representatives on the panel were absent.
It was learnt that the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who should have led members of the reconciliation committee in Atiku’s camp to the meeting was the chief host during the defection of some All Progressives Congress members in Yola.
There were strong indications on Wednesday that both sides had yet to agree on the venue of the Friday meeting.
A reliable source in Atiku’s camp claimed that both parties agreed to hold the meeting in Abuja.
But a source in Wike’s camp said no one in the governor’s team was aware of the decision that the meeting would hold in Abuja.
The source further said if Ayu resigned in the interest of the party, the reconciliation meeting would be held in no other place than Port Harcourt.
“In respect of the meeting to settle the disagreement between Wike and Atiku, and as a counter to the statement that an agreement had been reached for the meeting to be held in Abuja on Friday, we are stating categorically that the meeting will be held in no place other than Port Harcourt.
“That is our position; we are unaware of the agreement that informed the claim that the reconciliation committee will meet in Abuja on Friday,” the source in Wike’s camp said.