News
Breaking: Wike’s men make huge demands
Loyalists of the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike have called for the restructuring of the Peoples Democratic Party’s leadership to accommodate more southerners, saying the party as presently constituted, is pro-North.
The governor’s camp complained that the structure of the party was skewed in favour of northerners, stressing that any proposed reconciliation between the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Wike must address this contentious issue.
Wike’s loyalists stated this in separate interviews with The PUNCH as Atiku met with the governor in Abuja on Thursday.
Regardless of the meeting, the members of Wike’s camp are insisting on the restructuring of the PDP leadership, stating that the northerners cannot occupy the positions of the Board of Trustees, chairman, the national chairman and governors’ forum chairman.
A PDP chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, said as party loyalists, they would support any genuine decision by the party to ensure peace in the fold.
Nwuke, who represented Etche-Omuma constituency in the green chamber of the national assembly said, “We are party loyalists. It stands to reason that as party men, good party men, we will support any move, any decision, any aspiration made by the party or its leadership to ensure that peace reigns in our midst.”
To lay the foundation for peace in the PDP, the former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, however, said there must be harmony, respect and understanding.
He added, “We are watching from the sidelines, at least to see what will transpire. The BoT has set up a committee to look into the matter. We understand that they want to start with the standard-bearer, we are waiting. As the standard-bearer, he is the shepherd. It is his responsibility to gather the flock.
“So, if Atiku is sincere and wants unity within the party, peace will return. If he believes he has all it takes to go it alone, if he believes that those who are genuinely aggrieved should be left by the wayside, then we will sit by and watch the masquerade play. “
Asked if he was calling for the restructuring of the party’s leadership to enable Southerners to step into some of the key positions, he said that was the way to go.
Nwuke added, “Yes, basically, that is why I raised those questions. What is the logic in all of that when everything is lopsided? We all belong to the same political party and everything is one sided; that is not what was envisioned by the constitution of the PDP.
“So, certainly restructuring these things would have been the first step forward.”
On what their demands are, Nwuke said, “We demand respect, we demand equity, fairness and justice. We demand adherence to the dictates of the PDP constitution: Its spirit and letters have given a sense of inclusion and balance in past, especially when it comes to sharing positions within the party.’’
BoT chairman
He further said, “We cannot have the chairman of Governors Forum in the North, the chairman of the BoT in the North, the Acting Secretary of the BoT in the North, the chairman of the party in the North and the Presidential flag bearer of the party in the North. Where is the fairness in this? Where is the justice in this? Where is the balance in this?
“My leader has said quite clearly that we are moving nowhere. This is maturity in action despite the fact there could be options to choose at this time. But above all things, Wike has spoken the truth and all supporters agree with this posture.’’
On his part, the Chairman of Gokana Local Government Area, Confidence Deko, ‘’My satisfaction will be when he (Governor Wike) will come back to us and say he is satisfied and we should move on. Until then, he is the one to communicate that satisfaction to us.
“I will tell you he is in a better position to handle the issues to the extent that anything that will satisfy him to mean that yes indeed, he has been so reached and spoken to.
“And then for us who are his supporters, the moment he is satisfied, yes; we will join him.”
A chieftain of the party in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “To ensure genuine reconciliation, the PDP must change its leadership structure. It must show that it cares for the South.”
Also a member of the state party executive noted, “If Atiku is serious with reconciliation, (PDP chairman, Iyorchia) Ayu must step down. (Gov Aminu) Tambuwal cannot continue to be the governors’ forum chairman.”
Meanwhile, top sources in the PDP said the meeting between Atiku and Wike was held at the residence of a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana, signalling what observers believed, was reconciliatory moves to pacify the governor.
The meeting between the presidential candidate and the governor took place two months after Atiku defeated Wike and others in the party primary in May.
Since then, the opposition party has been rocked by crisis following the choice of the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as Atiku’s running mate.
Wike, Okowa and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom had appeared before the screening panel set up by the PDP to nominate a vice-presidential candidate to the PDP presidential flag-bearer but Okowa was nominated by the Atiku after Wike was reportedly selected by the party advisory committee as the vice-presidential candidate.
To resolve the ensuing crisis, the Board of Trustees on Wednesday set up a reconciliation committee.
