These may not be the best of seasons for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as Nigeria wobbles its way towards the 2023 election dateline. Like a malfunctioning behemoth, the main opposition party is fast degenerating to a house of commotion. Rather than focusing on strategies to wrestle power from a political hyena, its members are plagued by an internal war of attrition.
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| From Up: People’s Democratic Party PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike |
Ironically, Rivers State Governor Nyeson Wike, a man who has demonstrated rare commitment to the party, has also become its Bull in a China shop. He dangles a big wood, and at the slightest provocation, threatens to smash its fragile shell to smithereens.
Last week, he was in his element. Specifically on Thursday, 1 September, while commissioning internal road in Omerelu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area, LGA, of the State, the Governor threatened to facilitate PDP’s defeat in the imminent polls.
In a direct reference to PDP National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu, with whom he has been daggers drawn, he said: “Now we have seen that you don’t want the party to win election, we will help you.”
Ayu had earlier rebuffed Wike’s demand for his resignation. While speaking on the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, Hausa Service, the previous day, Wednesday, he described those calling for his removal as children.
“I was elected PDP National Chairman for four years, now I am not even one year old. The issue of Atiku’s election does not apply to the position of party leader. I won the election. I haven’t done anything wrong, the noise is not bothering me. When we started the PDP journey, we did not see these children. They are children who do not know why we established this party. We will not allow one person to come and destroy our party,” Ayu stated.
The Rivers Governor who will usually not ignore an insult, responded the following day. “Doctor Ayu said we are children. Yes, the children brought you from the gutter to make you chairman.
“Ayu, you said you founded this party, but you left the party in 2007. You founded a company, you left the company, people stood and brought out the company to what it is today, you have no moral right to still come and claim that you founded that company, you left with your shares.”
PDP, which members like to describe as “the biggest party in Africa”, has been nursing cracks within it’s walls. The schism escalated from the animosity that characterised its elective convention in June. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as Presidential candidate in a fiercely contested Primary.
Wike came second and grudgingly expected to be compensated with the Vice Presidential slot. The Rivers Governor accused Ayu of bias following the latter’s description of Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwa who stepped down for Atiku, as hero of the primary.
Even at that, Wike’s hope of becoming Running Mate was dashed. Although, the Rivers Governor topped the list of three persons recommended by the party’s Vice Presidential Selection Committee, Atiku overlooked him. He settled for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State. The party, which has not known peace since then, is almost bifurcated down the middle.
Wike is joined by the triumvirate musketeers, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu and Seyi Makinde who are fellow Governors of Benue, Abia and Oyo States. Former Governors, Donald Duke of Cross River, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and PDP Board of Trustee, BoT, member Chief Olabode George are also in that company.
With Atiku in the trenches are Ayu, also a former Senate President and Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State.
