Wike confident of Atiku fulfilling pledges as PDP seeks reconciliation

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to sustain the fight for the return of a healthy party structure that will allow an even representation of the interest of the North and South in the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic party.

The governor said the current leadership structure, with the North holding the presidential ticket as well as the national chairman positions, was against the constitution of the PDP and a gross injustice to the South.

Wike made the observation at the inauguration of the Ahoada Campus and staff quarters of the Rivers State University, which was performed by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, September 8.

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The current hierarchy of the PDP, Wike said, did not give room for the interest of the South, particularly when decisions were to be taken.

Governor Wike said the resignation of the Board of Trustees Chairman was a distraction because the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had told him that the national chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu must relinquish his position.

The governor said, “Ayu said if the presidential candidate comes from the North, he will resign after the convention of our party, and that the chairman of our party will come from the South.

“When the North-Central leaders met in the house of the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, he said so there. When he met the caucus of the Senate, he told them that.

“Now, when we finished our convention on Sunday, the candidate of the party came to see me in my house in Abuja on Monday around 10:30 am. The candidate told me I want us to work together, and then he said: ‘look, Ayu must go.’

“I said, why? He (Atiku) said because when a candidate comes from the North, the Chairman will come from the South.”

Governor Wike challenged the presidential candidate of the PDP to deny the comment and be ready to hear many other things that had transpired between them relating to the current crisis.

“And I’m saying, implement what you told me. What offence have I committed? It is nothing to do with Wike.

“It has to do with integrity. This is what he told me. I challenge the presidential candidate to deny this. If he denies it, I will go further to say so many things to Nigerians because enough is enough. We can’t continue this way,” Wike stated.