The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, owes Nigerians an explanation and an apology after Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate, made some fairly contentious remarks.
In Kaduna on Sunday, Atiku claimed that the north does not require candidates who are Yoruba or Igbo.
“I am familiar with the whole nation. I have erected bridges all over this nation. The typical northerner, in my opinion, requires someone who is from the north, who also comprehends the other regions of Nigeria, and who has been successful in bridging those gaps.
“The northerner needs something like this. Neither an Igbo nor a Yoruba candidate are required by him (the northerner). The northerner requires this. As a pan-Nigerian of northern descent, I stand before you, Atiku said.
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In response to the remarks that have sparked intense debate across the nation, Governor Wike stated that while he doubts Atiku could have made such a sensational statement at such a pivotal moment in the history of the country, such a stance would support his fight for equity, justice, and fairness in the PDP.
He asserts that the party must immediately address the problem and make an appeal to Nigerians lest the populace cease supporting the PDP and start to perceive it as a party where justice and equity are scarce.
In addition, Governor Wike questioned Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman, about how he would respond to accusations of corruption brought against him and he denounced as absurd the board of trustees’ suggestions to the PDP crisis.
The peace inside the Peoples Democratic Party has recently been threatened by a few events. The National Chairman’s defense against Governor Wike’s accusations of corruption, the Board of Trustees’ recommendations regarding the leadership crisis, and a statement attributed to the party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar about the North not needing the Yoruba or Igbo candidates were the most notable of the recent incidents.
Wike has previously stated that if the PDP were to win the 2023 presidential election, the national leadership must act morally.
In order to ensure that a person from the south fills the position in accordance with the principles of equality, fairness, and justice, Governor Wike argued that Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s resignation as PDP national chairman is the proper course of action.
He emphasized that any group leader who instigates conflict within his own group is actually lacking in the necessary abilities to manage that group’s affairs.
“Those who are the party’s leaders now have an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership abilities. The front-runner for the presidency is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. The anguish is felt by him alone.
Governor Wike cited Section 7 (3) (c) of the party constitution, which stipulates that all political and elective offices must be zoned.
He questioned why it is now so challenging for Senator Ayu to uphold the law or even to follow his word and step down from office if a northern person wins the PDP nomination.
We haven’t done the presidential primary yet, but the party’s national head threatened to resign if the winner comes from his region.
Additionally, Governor Wike charged Senator Ayu with obtaining the precise sum of one hundred million Naira from the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and a different governor in order to repair the party’s democratic institution. Senator Ayu is pushed to reject it by Governor Wike.
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Let me also add that after receiving N100,000,000 from a governor to renovate our democratic institution, Ayu returned to the PDP NWC and demanded the same amount for performing the same task.
What kind of a system is it, he continued? All of these things I’m telling you are true. I’ll tell you (about the people from whom he received money) once he (Ayu) says no.
The governor of Rivers State emphasized the significance of the PDP’s mission to save Nigeria, which Nigerians had set for it. But he added that the task calls for the party to be led by a person of integrity.
