Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, his Oyo and Benue states counterparts – Seyi Makinde and Samuel Ortom – are to boycott the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign launch today in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, it was learnt yesterday.
The three aggrieved governors had similarly boycotted the inauguration of the campaign council at the Conference Centre, Abuja on September 28 along with their two colleagues – Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikepeazu (Abia).Also yesterday, Ortom said he would not succumb to intimidation and blackmail by supporters of PDP National Chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from Benue State.
He maintained that since the chairman had promised to resign, if a northerner emerged, he should fulfill his promise.A protracted post-presidential primary had hit the main opposition party, following Ayu’s refusal to resign after Atiku Abubakar emerged as candidate.
Both Atiku and Ayu have maintained that resignation by Ayu should follow constitutional guidelines.But, the governors have insisted that Ayu should quit to pave the way for a Southerner in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness.Atiku, Ayu and the campaign Director-General, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, are from the North.
Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara was appointed as Ayu’s replacement, in a move to reflect a semblance of balancing in power in the party.
However, the Wike camp had rebuffed the move, saying that the BoT was an advisory body and its chairmanship inconsequential.The reconciliation moves initiated by Wabara in recent time to resolve the rift between Atiku and Wike have failed to yield the desired results.The festering crisis of confidence has spilled to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as members are also split along the Atiku/Wike camps.
The division in the NWC reached a climax a few days ago when four members returned monies totaling N122.4 million paid into their bank accounts by the leadership.While the party leadership said the monies were meant for the members’ housing allowance, the four NWC members had expressed reservations about the propriety of the lodgments.
Apparently piqued by the actions of the four members, the party leadership last Tuesday set up an in-house committee to investigate the matter and submit a report within one week.On September 21, Wike’s supporter resolved to pull out of the Atiku campaign council unless Ayu vacates office.Chief Bode George, who read the communique after the meeting said:
“Senator Iyorchia Ayu must resign as the National Chairman of the party for an acting Chairman of the Southern Nigerian extraction to emerge and lead the party on the national campaign.“Consequently, we resolve not to participate in the campaign council in whatever capacity until the resignation of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu”.
