Atiku jets to UK to mend fences with Wike as Tinubu camp woos the Rivers Governor
Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has jetted off to the United Kingdom for what associates say is a mission to broker peace with angry Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Relationship between Wike and leadership of the PDP especially Atiku has been everything but peaceful since after the party’s presidential primary and the picking of running mate for Atiku. Ever since Wike has openly showed his anger and disenchantment with the party leadership.
Emissaries have been sent to calm Wike down and broker peace between him and Atiku but the Rivers governor appear unbending, instead he has openly flirted with other political parties
Wike had earlier met with presidential candidate of the All Progressives Party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday, in UK just as he has met with Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, in Nigeria.
While Wike has vowed not to leave the PDP, his latest antics which some PDP members described as anti-party activities are seen to unsettle Atiku camp and compel them to accede to the demands of the Wike camp one of which is for the party chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to step down for a southerner.
An associate of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ibrahim Masari, has confirmed that Tinubu met with Wike and some PDP Governors in London.
Speaking to BBC Hausa service, Masari, who was a placeholder running mate to Tinubu, said the PDP Governors “will support APC to win the 2023 elections, especially Nyesom Wike.”
Some of the Governors reported to have met with Tinubu include Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Ikpeazu Okezie of Abia State.