Following a frank peace session, the camp of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has made two concessions to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to douse the tension in the party.
It has ruled out Wike’s defection from PDP to any party despite the internal challenges facing the party. The camp has also accepted to be part of the party’s presidential campaign.
However, Wike’s group was not interested in making the governor the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council. But it gave a condition to Atiku before it can fully play a role in the party’s 2003 presidential campaign.
The camp insisted on the stepping down of the national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. No fewer than seven governors of PDP have endorsed Wike’s peace terms.
Sources said the terms for peace were arrived at when Atiku’s three-man team met with Wike’s seven-man negotiating group.
Those on the side of Atiku were governor Umaru Fintiri, Akilu Indabawa and Eyitayo Jegede (SAN). Leaders from Wike’s camp included ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko (Leader); ex-AGF and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN); ex-Governor Hassan Dankwambo; ex-Governor Donald Duke; Nnenna Ukeje; Senator Olaka Nwogu; and Mohammed Abubakar from Kano state.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said the Port Harcourt meeting on Friday was able to reach “some reasonable terms for peace to reign in the party.”
The source said: “After many hours of reviewing the events of the past few months, the two camps tabled their terns to heal wounds in the party ahead of the flag off of 2023 general election campaign.
“For Wike’s group, it foreclosed dumping of the party and it has pledged to back the party during the campaign and the poll.
“Although the group said Wike was not interested in being the Director-General of the PDP Campaign Council, it demanded inclusion in the party to build confidence between the North and the South.
“The group insisted that the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu must step aside to be able to fulfil its pledges to support and work for Atiku.
“Apart from asking Ayu to live up to his promise to leave the seat when Northerner emerges as a presidential candidate, the group cited a similar circumstance and how PDP resolved it in the past.
“Wike’s team said when ex-President Goodluck Jonathan emerged the presidential candidate of PDP, the then national chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, quit for a Northern candidate, Dr. Haliru Mohammed, to lead the party to victory.”
Another source said:” Atiku’s camp’s shopping list included wooing Wike to remain in PDP and for him to participate actively in the 2023 campaign of the party.
“But it was not forthcoming on the quit notice demanded for Ayu. It said it will give Wike’s camp a feedback very soon.”
As at press time, seven PDP governors have keyed into the conditions tabled by Wike’s camp.
They are Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom and two others.