In an effort to address the problem with the governor of Rivers State, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, met with Nyesom Wike on Thursday in London.
According to information obtained by The PUNCH, Atiku begged Wike to endorse him in the 2023 presidential election.
It was said that the former Vice-President had promised to comply with all of Wike’s demands.
In other news, ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo met with Wike earlier on Thursday in London, United Kingdom, in an effort to increase public support for Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
Along with Wike and Obi, the Rivers State governor’s allies included the governors of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River State.
Following the former Vice-victory President’s in the PDP presidential primaries a few months ago, ties between Atiku and Wike deteriorated.
According to reports, Atiku rejected the PDP committee’s suggestion that Wike, who finished second in the presidential primaries, serve as his running mate.
Wike became resentful after Atiku chose the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.
Although the PDP set up a panel to reconcile the two men, Wike insisted on the removal of the party’s Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The former Vice-men President’s refused the governor’s request to have Ayu dismissed, which led to an impasse during the peace committee meeting on Friday in Port Harcourt between Wike and Atiku supporters.
Additionally, it was reported that Atiku’s delegation turned down a proposal that, if elected, the PDP presidential candidate serve a single term.
Atiku’s meeting with Wike in London, according to a very trustworthy source, had the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintri, along for the ride.
Although the source did not specify Wike’s requests, he said Atiku had agreed to meet all the demands of the governor.
The source stated, “He (Atiku) has agreed to meet all demands. He will sign an undertaking on all the agreements. Once he is able to meet them, the Wike group is ready to work with him. The details will be made known”.
