THERE has been an uneasy calm in the camp of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike over the preference of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate to the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
It was gathered that Wike had been ruminating over the matter as he felt betrayed and embarrassed a second time in the process that dumped him for Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
It could be recalled that Wike hinted of an injustice meted on him during the PDP presidential primary election where Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal was allowed to speak twice and stepped down for Atiku.
In the race for the running mate, the party abandoned the recommendation of its Advisory Committee, which chose Wike with 16 votes and selected Okowa, who scored only three votes.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said the entire PDP faithful and loyalists were waiting for the Governor to give directive on the way forward.
The source said the Governor was taking his time to review the entire scenario and that he would soon bare his mind.
Wike, though in Port Harcourt, had neither made a public appearance nor spoken on any matter after Okowa’s emergence.
The foot soldiers of the Governor were said to be spoiling for war saying it was time to pay PDP back for taking the value Wike and Rivers bring to the party for granted.
The Rivers Chairman, National Youth Council (NYC), Chijioke Ihunwo, fumed over the development describing it as the height of betrayal and ingratitude.
Ihunwo said despite the loyalty of Wike and his immense contributions in rebuilding the party, PDP abandoned him for a serial defector like Atiku.
He said the party had laid a foundation for a woeful performance in the forthcoming election with the choice of Okowa insisting that the Delta Governor lacked the capacity to win elections.
Ihunwo urged Wike to reject any entreaties to make him the Director-General of Atiku’s campaign organisation.
He said: “Governor Wike stood up to ensure that the PDP survived. Those holding positions in the party today are serial defectors. Atiku has been junketing to different parties but today he is flying the party’s flag.
“What happened at the primary was abnormal. An aspirant spoke, came back a second time to speak again. But Wike ignored all that to pursue the unity pf the party. Okowa cannot win election in Delta State. They have betrayed Wike.
“PDP has not been fair to Wike. This is a man who has stood for the party. He ensured the opposition did not crash PDP but they are coming to pay him with evil.
“I won’t advise Wike to accept any offer for a campaign DG to Atiku. Why will he fund Atiku campaign when they betrayed him despite all he did to rebuild the party.
“There must be consequences. 80 per cent of Nigerians love Wike. They wanted Wike to either be the President or the vice-president. PDP with what they have done had shown signal for total failure in 2023. Even those who feel they are on ground did not invest money to build this party”.
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