The recent ‘bromance’ between Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Rivers State Governor who recently lost the PDP presidential primaries to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is something that gladdens the hearts of many of their supporters.
Given the disposition of the Rivers State Governor before the primary election and his reported statements, no one knew it would be this ‘smooth’ a relationship between the two in the aftermath.
But what has happened between the two within the week, with one visiting the other and the sense of reciprocity has given indications that there might be something up PDP’s sleeves.
What if the PDP decides to pair them both? A North and South combo that would give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) a run for their money? Literally a run for their money given the dollar rain that took place and that has continued to take place during party primaries across the country.
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Wike will always tell people to forget his public outbursts and seeming toxicity and focus on what he is capable of delivering as a public officer. He uses what he has been able to achieve, as Rivers State Governor, as the reason people should take him seriously and back him. Moreover, as a developing nation, many are of the opinion that that should count because what every part of Nigeria needs now is someone that can bring about an infrastructural upgrade to the people.
Also, given the amount of resources, time and energy expended by Governor Wike, it will not be out of place for him to be considered as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar. Those in his camp have said it would be a fitting compensation for all his investment in the PDP. They say Wike has demonstrated, beyond all expectations, his political sagacity and loyalty to the PDP. That he exudes tenacity and consistency.
While the party’s flag bearer was at a time in the ruling APC after dumping PDP only to later return, Wike has remained with the PDP and constantly contributed to the growth of the party. He has toured the entire country and even had to travel to Katsina State in the North, twice, for his presidential ambition.
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Having not succeeded and losing gallantly to Atiku by 371 to 237 in the presidential primaries out of the 767 national delegates accredited, Wike was expected to be bitter and possibly leave the PDP. But he has remained consistent and has followed up a visit by Atiku to him in his Abuja residence by returning the favour.
Wike had pledged during Atiku’s visit to keep to his word of firmly supporting whoever wins the ticket and maintained that he is “a party man who has been in the party since 1998” and will continue to work for, and remain loyal to the party.
While he assured that he is “going nowhere”, the Governor urged Atiku to learn his lessons from the 2019 elections where governors had promised the support of their states and eventually did not deliver. The same thing, he said, happened at the convention. These types of statements and the bluntness with which he utters them remains what some have considered his albatross. But Wike cares less. He says how and what he feels and moves on.
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But as a politician, if Atiku makes him his running mate, he is sure to have someone that would tell him the blunt truth irrespective of how he might take it. But as a former Vice President and Vice Presidential candidate too, Atiku sure knows the qualities he is looking for in the person that would deputise him. He knows the baggage he can carry and what can aid his efforts to wrest power from the clutches of the APC.
It is instructive to learn from the intrigues of how the presidential primary of the PDP was won and lost and the revelations about the maneuvering between Friday and Saturday nights which eventually stopped what could have been ‘an epochal’ victory for the Rivers State Governor against Atiku.
However, Mr Abubakar’s victory was largely the result of a desperate intervention involving a former president, former military heads of state, former generals, former governors from the North, chieftains of the PDP from the North and a former intelligence chief to stop the Rivers State Governor who intelligence report confirmed as the heaviest spender in the primary.
The power brokers were alarmed by information and conclusive analyses before the PDP Special National Convention began that Mr Wike could spend his way to nomination. “They decided that the guy had to be stopped,” an inside source was quoted as saying on Saturday night.
“They do not see Wike as a presidential material; they believe he would totally run amok as president,” the source added.
A section of the PDP power brokers had met with the five northern presidential aspirants to broker a deal for a consensus candidate among them but only Mohammed Hayatu-Deen acceded to their plea for four of them to step down for Mr Abubakar.
However, they continued to put pressure on the others, until Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal announced his withdrawal too and directed his delegates to vote for Mr Abubakar. Their analysis was that northern aspirants splitting their votes would hand the Rivers Governor victory.
Enters Peter Obi
The former Anambra State Governor is now the presidential candidate of another opposition party, the Labour Party. The pair would have ‘made sense’ because of their views on the nation’s economy and their idea of how it should be run. It is interesting the things one reads about the investment Obi had made with the resources of Anambra and how such investments are yielding gains for the state. I am sure Nigerians would not mind a few adjustments here and there given what they are going through under the current Buhari government and the level of borrowing without much gains to show.
One would have thought Obi would wait for a repeat of the duo the PDP presented in 2019, but evidence before him, which prompted his hurried resignation from the party indicated that was not to be. Powerful governors of the party who have a war chest on their laps did not want an Atiku-Obi repeated candidacy.
Dele Momodu
Personally, I see idealism and a lot of talk from Dele Momodu. I am by no means trying to downplay the character and capacity of the Chief Executive Officer of Ovation Magazine who scored no vote in the presidential primary. He couldn’t match the others dollar for dollar despite trying to be President of Nigeria since 2011.
I doubt he has much to play with other than putting his name out there for possible ministerial or any other apointive positions when government is formed.
Anyim Pius Anyim
The former Senate President is a man whose politics sets him apart. He is an intelligent man that would bring a lot to play in any political setting. He went into the contest with vast experience, having served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. He was able to secure paltry 14 votes, placing him in the sixth position.
I doubt if he too had the dollar to throw about during the primaries. In a statement he personally signed, Senator Anyim expressed shock, noting that votes were cast based on primordial sentiments. “I am shocked that consideration for voting the PDP presidential candidate was not based on burning national issues and how to resolve them, but still on the old primordial sentiments. It appears doubtful if our search for nationhood is yielding any results,” his statement read.
He would however be a good consideration for the position of a running mate to Atiku Abubakar. He’ll bring calm, calculation and consideration into government policies and programmes. But our thought is not theirs.
Udom Emmanuel
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State may have scored 38 votes and emerged fourth best from the primaries, but he is another person that fits the bill of becoming the running mate to Atiku Abubakar.
Much has been done with modest achievement as Governor. Udon exemplifies someone that can bring value to the table. He would have made a good Vice Presidential candidate too.
Ifeanyi Okowa
Dr Ifeanyi Okowa governs Delat State and has had a stellar performance in the oil rich state. He is one man that is fit to deputise Atiku. He was a frontline aspirant for the plum job before jettisoning his aspiration. He is a man of grit in governance and would do well.
As preparations for 2023 elections hots up, there are interesting times ahead.
Thanks!