The crisis engulfing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has now turned to shouting match between Sule Lamido, the former governor of Jigawa State and Governor Nyesom Wike of River State, two PDP Chieftains, who are now disparaging each other in the public space.
WHAT WE KNOW
The Rivers State governor on Wednesday blasted Sule Lamido, the former Jigawa State governor, referring to him as someone who has lost his “relevance” in the polity and currently without “followership” even in his own Jigawa State.
Governor Nyesom Wike was reacting to Sule Lamido`s comment about him (Wike) on a life television program, which was reported by Clariform.
Wike said that the former Jigawa State governor has never added any political value to the Peoples Democratic Party since 2015 and as such has no capacity to do so in the 2023 elections.
In the political program on Channels TV monitored by Clariform, Lamido advised PDP to ignore Governor Wike and move on, saying that the Rivers State governor does not have monopoly of influencing the people on how to vote.
He said that Nyesom Wike does not have the capacity to cost the PDP victory in the 2023 elections in Rivers State, and by implication is being overrated.
Following the life political program, a reaction was put out by Governor Wike through his spokesperson, Kelvin Ebiri, where the Rivers State governor took Sule Lamido to the cleaners.
NOTABLE QUOTE
“It is rather appalling that at a time when concerted efforts are being made by lovers of true democracy and the unity of the party, to resolve some inherent contradictions plaguing the PDP, Alhaji Lamido and his cohorts, who have since lost their relevance in the polity, are busy creating friction and schism,” the statement reads.
“Governor Wike has never claimed to be the custodian of the over 3 million votes in Rivers State. But as the leader of the PDP and good people of Rivers State, anyone who underrates the governor’s political pedigree or dares to ignore his influence in the State and beyond will be doing so at his own peril.
“We wish to remind Alhaji Lamido that governor Wike has never left anyone in doubt about his capacity to sway the voters in Rivers State in a direction that benefits the people and the State. In overall, when he speaks, Rivers people will listen, no doubt.
“Perhaps, Alhaji Lamido thinks Nigerians are suffering from selective amnesia to have forgotten in a hurry, the ignoble role he and his cohorts played between 2014 and 2015, that culminated in the defeat of the PDP in the 2015 general election.
“We hope that he is not up in such a scheme again to cause a repeat of that history. Otherwise, if Alhaji Lamido has any modicum of conscience, he won’t be making disparaging comments about governor Wike, whom many have described as the pillar of the PDP since 2015.
“We wish to state without equivocation that no well-meaning member of the PDP will describe governor Wike as ‘insignificant’ in the affairs of the PDP. With all modesty, only persons plagued by schizophrenia psychosis will ascribe any form of relevance to Alhaji Lamido, under whose leadership the PDP has woefully lost two governorship elections in Jigawa State in quick succession.
“Under Lamido’s watch, as a governor of Jigawa State in 2015, the APC governorship candidate, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, scored a total 648,045 votes to defeat his PDP opponent, Malam Aminu Ringim, who scored a total 479, 447 votes. Worst still, in 2019, governor Abubakar polled 810,933, while the PDP candidate scored 288,356.
“Such records depict that Alhaji Lamido cannot and does not have such a political following that will benefit the PDP. Those who want electoral victory for the PDP are not dampening the morale required for a political offensive at APC, but Alhaji Lamido is cracking the wall of unity badly.”
Speaking further, Ebiri referred to the victories of PDP in Rivers State under Wike in 2015 and 2019 which he describes as margins that “are marks of political sagacity and determination to keep PDP at a leading pedestal”.
“So, as the 2023 general elections beckon, we wish to advise Alhaji Lamido to redeem his battered political image by delivering Jigawa State to the PDP, if he can,” he added.
FLASHBACK
In related development, the former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido on Tuesday made some reproachful comments about the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who is currently locking horns with Atiku Abubakar.
Sule Lamido said categorically that the PDP should ignore Wike and move on, noting that the Rivers State governor does not have a monopoly over the Rivers electorate.
The former Jigawa State governor made these comments in a life television programs monitored by Clariform reporter on Tuesday night.
While speaking on Channels Politics Today program, Sule Lamido said “we should forget about Wike”, as he “does not have a monopoly over the people” and does not have the political weight he thinks he has.
These warring comments from the party chieftain comes amid the crisis troubling the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is looking to dislodge the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) from power.
Former governor Lamido was unapologetic in his dismissal of Nyesom Wike, stating category that PDP does not need Wike to win the 2023 elections, not even in his Rivers State dormian where he said that Wike does not have monopoly over the people.
NOTABLE QUOTES
Sule Lamido while speaking on Channels TV said, “Wike is an individual, I don’t think because he is a governor there he has control and monopoly over the peoples of Rivers,” he said.
“He hasn’t got it. Rivers people are also PDP in their own right. They were there in 1999 when he joined. They were there when he was council chairman.
“Therefore, because he’s a governor, he now thinks he is their emperor, it can’t work. There is a Wike in every part of Nigeria who is a governor.
“Leave Wike alone. He has the right to do whatever he wants. He can give order to people in Rivers who are enslaved to him. But right now if you go to Rivers, they are contesting for the governorship seat there, it was Wike who imposed the current candidate and nobody questioned that.”
NEWS ANALYSIS
Clariform investigations have revealed that the crisis in PDP has deepened greatly following the way and manner Atiku went about the choice of his running mate after his alliance with Governor Tambuwal led to the defeat of Governor Wike at the PDP primary.
Atiku went further to chose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State over Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who was the popular choice of the PDP chieftains for the position of the PDP/Atiku`s running mate.
A reading of the political heartbeat of the country cannot discountenance the weight that Nyesom Wike carries in the scheme of things, both within and outside the PDP. Mr Wike is believed to be key for the success of PDP in the 2023 presidential poll.
In any case, there are some people who are happy with the events going on in the PDP, especially those who are set to benefit directly from it. The ruling APC for instance have been inching closer to Wike since the disagreements with the PDP flagbearer.
Recently, governor Wike has invited and hosted two prominent members of the APC for the commissioning of projects in Rivers State.
The current governor of Lagos state – Governor Sanwo Olu, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives who are both members of the APC have recently commissioned Governor Wike`s projects in Rivers State.
Also, the reigning popularity of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate is another factor in the equation. This was subtly mentioned by Sam Ohuabunwa during the life interview, when he made reference to “the rising of the third force”, even without referring to Peter Obi by name.
Clariform has reported that the Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi on Tuesday held an announced meeting at the home of Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt.
At the meeting were Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, who are known political allies of the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.
Also present at the meeting were former Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Donald Duke of Cross Rivers State and Dakawanbo of Gombe state.
Two independent sources close to the River State governor have confirmed to a Clariform correspondent that some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are seriously considering the endorsement of Peter Obi for president in 2023.
The sources did not mention names, but both have indicated that those who are currently considering the endorsement Peter Obi goes beyond those present at the Port Harcourt meeting with Wike.
One of the sources said that rift between Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate is not exactly why the consideration of Obi is on the table, but that it is certainly fast tracking the decision. The source said that “Obi is no doubt a winning formula.”
“He is the candidate to beat in this election, especially with additional support from some grassroot politicians. We have seen the handwriting on the wall and we are working on the best approach to herness his potentials. In fact it was a mistake not to have rallied round him to gun for the PDP ticket in the first place. Most of us are regretting things now.”
