Why Atiku rejected Wike despite nomination by party’s committee

The decision of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to pick Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate, was one taken a long time ago despite the several detours and gerrymandering that culminated to the official proclamation.

At the party’s national caucus meeting attended by three other governors and other prominent leaders of the party, Atiku said Okowa’s choice was a very difficult decision in view of the fact that the other two persons whose names were submitted to him were equally qualified.

On Tuesday, a committee set up by Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) met and voted 16-3 in favour of the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar

After receiving a report from the Umar Damagum-led committee, the PDP leadership submitted the names of Wike and those of Okowa and Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, back to Atiku.

Making the clarifications, Ayu said though the party submitted the names of the three governors, only the presidential candidate had the power to choose from among the shortlisted list.

It was gathered that after the media published the report that the vetting committee favoured Wike, the pressure was brought to bear on Atiku by party leaders opposed to the Rivers governor to reject the report.

OKOWA

Those opposed to their recommendation of Wike argued that he would not be a good sell to the North because of his hard stance against the Buhari administration, particularly, the court case against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) regarding the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT).

But in selecting Okowa, Atiku noted that the support of every party leader would be required to keep the PDP united. He said: “Party unity is critical not only for us to prosecute a winning campaign but also to provide good governance that our country seriously deserves and our people earnestly yearn for.”

On why he chose Okowa, Atiku said after his wide consultations with various stakeholders and party stalwarts, it was made clear that his “running mate would have the potential to succeed him at a moment’s notice, i.e a president-in-waiting.”

According to him, Okowa possesses the admirable attributes for the position of Vice-President and has the appropriate experiences in both legislative and executive arms of governance.

Okowa, according to Atiku, is someone who will remain part of his everyday life, as they navigate the leading of a complex country such as Nigeria.

“He personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and deserve.

“He’s a serving governor who has demonstrated in his state and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people. I know that he will not only add excitement to our energised campaign but will also help to bring focus, discipline and stability to our government come 2023,” Atiku stated.

The former Vice President noted, “today in Nigeria, we face huge challenges, which leave us little room for drama. We have to win the elections and get to work immediately.

“My running mate has to be ready to start working with me, from day one, in addressing our country’s challenges. Nigerians will not accept anything less. That is why I promised the governors of our party that my running mate will come from among them. Our current challenges call for a government that is highly focused and disciplined,” he said.

An insider source with Atiku team noted that while Wike’s candidacy was very strong and highly spoken of, talks of his hard sell to the North were a disapproving factor.

“His courage and strength were highly recommended. Atiku would have needed someone of his caliber to be on the ticket but between Tuesday and yesterday, Wike’s virtues and value to the party were overshadowed by talks of his being highly toxic, which would not only affect acceptance of the joint ticket in the North but across other regions as well. It was a big minus.”

When asked what effect the eventual choice would have on Wike and the party, the source said: “Waziri may have reached out to the Rivers governor before he made the announcement and going forward, he will be seriously engaged as well as the Southeast to minimise protest votes from Rivers and Southeast next year. The point should, however, be made that Waziri and Okowa have come a long way with a deep personal relationship that will berth thoughtful and deep-thinking strategy for the campaign.”

But the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, condemned the emergence of Okowa as the running mate of Atiku.

In a statement released by the group’s Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze claimed that the PDP and Atiku would lose the 2023 general elections for neglecting the Southeast.

Ohanaeze alleged that Okowa, who sabotaged the Southern Governors’ agenda, would never be trusted for the votes of Ndigbo.

“Southeast knows the political direction to go in 2023, but certainly not the PDP. Ndigbo will decide the political direction to go but not the PDP. For shunning the region, Atiku will face the consequences of his actions,” he said.

Also, a former Commissioner for Information in Edo State, Kassim Afegbua, has given notice that he would be leaving the PDP over the choice of Okowa. Afegbua, who was also a former spokesperson to the former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, said Wike deserves the nomination ahead of Okowa.

Wike came second in the PDP presidential primary on May 29 in an election in which Okowa led his state’s delegates to vote for Atiku.

Afegbua described Atiku’s choice as a reward for treachery, noting that Okowa had hosted the meeting of the Southern Governors’ Forum in Asaba last year, where the governors demanded that the next Nigerian president should be produced by the Southern region.

Afegbua had also rebelled against the PDP in 2020 for handing Governor Godwin Obaseki its ticket for reelection after the governor was disqualified from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary for alleged forgery of an academic certificate.

Obaseki went ahead to win the election on the PDP ticket and the party suspended Afegbua for alleged anti-party activities.

Also, in apparent exultation at the rejection of his former political godfather, former national chairman, Uche Secondus, praised the choice of Okowa as Atiku’s deputy, remarking that “PDP’s journey back to Aso Rock” has begun.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Ike Abonyi, Secondus congratulated Atiku and Okowa for emerging the presidential and vice-presidential flag bearers of the party.

Secondus described Atiku and Okowa as experienced politicians, “who brought maturity into the contest, which must have been responsible for their eventual victory.

“Atiku’s choice of Okowa as his running mate says it all about his knack for picking good heads to be around him for the gargantuan task ahead. With the picking of a running mate, the candidacy is complete and PDP is now set for the inevitable journey back to Aso Rock come 2023,” the former chairman declared.