The People`s Democratic Party`s primaries may have come and gone but the dust it raised is yet to settle and may remain so for a little more time, even as the party begins the bigger task of building and strategizing for the bigger battle against the All Progressive Party (APC), come 2023.
When the party fateful and delegates gathered at the Velodrome of the MKO Abiola Stadium Abuja, the venue of the PDP 2022 convention and presidential primary election, many did not by any iota of imagination think of the possibility of the governor of Sokoto State, Waziri Tambuwal stepping down for Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the former Vice President.
At least if not for any other reason, it was already past the hours of any possible stepping down by any candidate because so much waters that have passed under the bridge in terms of exchange of dollars. At the moment the Sokoto governor took to the podium following the announcement of David Mark, the Chairman of the 2022 PDP National Convention Organising Committee, the usual money sharing for buying of delegates was already far underway.
David Mark gave a hit of the impending bombshell when he said that one of the aspirants hand an announcement to make. He however, did not give out enough information that let the cat out of the bag. The real bomb was dropped by Governor Tambuwal himself, when he announced his withdrawal from the race for the PDP presidential flag bearer.
The Sokoto State governor did not only step down from the contest, but also made it clear he was stepping down for Atiku Abubakar, a fellow Northern Muslim with a larger capacity to bring home the goods for the North.
Tambuwal, in his address, did not miss words in reminding the fellow party members and watchers from near and far, the urgency of the moment – which is the rescue of Nigeria from the ineptitude of Buhari government. He said that Nigeria was at the crossroads and was in calamitous need of reclamation from bondage. He also reminded us that he came into the race because he was the man for the moment.
In his words: “We are at a Crossroads. I decided to throw my hat in the ring after due consultations with the various strata of the Nigerian society. I poses the qualities required to rescue Nigerians.”
With these statements, he threw in the towel, throwing all his political capital entirely to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. This single step effectively decided the day and cemented Atiku`s victory as the PDP flag bearer for the 2023 presidential elections. Every other challengers facing Atiku and the threat they posed was almost immediately melted, and those whose heart was palpitating all the while suddenly found great relieve.
The thunderous and noisy ovation following the disclosure of that decision by Governor Tambuwual is a confirmation of why his stepping down was a redeeming feature for Atiku and by extension the North in their quest to retain power in 2023. Atiku`s supporters and what many would describe as the Northern delegates went wild in jubilation following the withdrawal of the Sokoto governor, and that their reaction spoke volume.
The development that raised the concern of the North to fever pitch was the unexpected rise in the perceived influence of the governor of River State, Nyesom Wike on the PDP delegates right there at the venue. Wike was reported to have caused a tempest in their popularity contest when he stormed into the venue in such a ceremonial atmosphere that aroused the attention of most the delegates.
Wike who went round the venue saluting the delegates in their respective quarters according to their sitting arrangements was said to have received sounding ovation from a majority of the delegates. In fact it was Wike who initiated and led the popularity content, while other candidates followed. It was Wike`s footstep that Atiku followed at the convention ground. The former Vice President was essentially playing catch up with Wike, whose was visibly gathering momentum.
Even long before the convention day, the permutations was that Governor Wike had already locked most of the votes of the delegates. The Rivers State governor was said to be topping the chart, while Atiku was playing second fiddle, and on the 3rd position was Governor Tambuwual whose reported delegate count was around the region of 120 delegates in his kitty. The threat therefore became obvious in the camp of those who saw the possibility of an embarrassing defeat for the North if Atiku and Tambuwual goes into the contest in competition, therefore sharing/dividing the delegates from their zones.
The division of the Northern delegates of 430 strength between the two Northern political gladiators and other candidates from the zone, including Senator Saraki, would have dealt a damaging blow to both of them (Atiku and Tambuwual), leaving none a clear path to victory. This in no doubt would have cleared the pathway much brighter for a possible Nyesom Wike victory as the PDP flag bearer for the presidential election. This was certainly an outcome that definitely the North was ready to avoid at all cost.
Therefore, when Governor Tambuwual said that his withdrawal from the raise was in the interest of the party and the country, this could indeed be very arguable, and some would certainly disagree with the claim. Some pundits may unquestionably have a different view, and would perhaps have interpretation of how things turned out and how his decision to withdraw from the PDP presidential primary was actually made. So, the question could be asked – did Tambuwual resign to clear the path for the consolidation of the Northern interest or for the good of the PDP and Nigeria at large?
Written by Maureen Blanca, a Clariform Staff Writer. Maurine Tweets @MaurineBlanca.
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