By Aminu Kutama
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, was conspicuously absent at the Peoples Democratic Party’s official flag-off of its presidential campaign in Akwa-Ibom on Monday.
His allies, including Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, also boycotted the event.
Their absence may not be unconnected to the Wike camp’s insistence on the resignation of PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The Wike camp have argued that it is unethical for the PDP to have a northern PDP presidential candidate and National Chairman, noting that it does not reflect the national character of the party.
They have also alleged that Ayu promised to resign after the PDP presidential primaries if a northerner emerged as candidate.
Ayu however has vowed to stay on as National Chairman and Atiku’s spokespersons have hinted that the presidential candidate has no intention – or power- to force Ayu’s removal.
At the event, Atiku Abubakar, promised that he will tackle poverty and insecurity if elected in the 2023 general election.
Abubakar said when the PDP was in power, it “lifted Nigeria from the bottom to the top” and made the country the biggest in economic terms in Africa.
He added that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed to live up to its campaign promises of making the country better than it took over from the PDP.
