Last week in Sokoto I was in a meeting with about a dozen business associates who were all members of the APC, except Alhaji Augie who is a staunch stalwart in Kebbi state. At every break in our activities, the subject matter turned to politics. It interested them to hear a different perspective. Even though they knew very well that I have never supported the APC, they were shocked to hear that I wouldn’t be voting for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2023.
As I was taking questions randomly from all these guys, all the concerns were about the rising discord in the PDP and what Governor Wike’s next move might be.
They’ll ask questions like: “Will your man leave the PDP?” And sometimes I wondered if they had ever seen us together. Others will ask, “ When is Wike joining us?” From no where, Alhaji Isah turns his large phone screen around,”Walahi, Wamako ya isa Port Harcourt kuma yana ganawa da Wike.” [Gov. Wammako is already in Port Harcourt to meet Wike.]
One quiet mallam who sat quietly all the while we bantered, a former director at the Central Bank, now a stalwart of APC, turns to me and said in a low tone, “The PDP rode on his back for years, if they don’t pacify him, they’ll end in his belly.” The only PDP man on the table said, “No, no, the PDP is too big for one man to derail. But we’ll unite.”
On every political strategy table today, the governor of Rivers state is discussed as a key variable in the permutations. They don’t discuss him because they like him, but because they understand that he could be a powerful disruptive force.
Governor Wike has formed a strong alliance across the Southern power blocs of the PDP. He has also managed to draft in allies across the River Niger. The base of the PDP is still in the South.
What many don’t realize is that Gov. Wike is leading a Southern protest; and I call it the Southern Force. They are making clear demands for equity and justice. They believe that the PDP erred in electing another Northerner to take over from President Buhari.
First, they are demanding a single term for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. They want that formal affirmation from the candidate directly. That is what the “unifier”, Atiku Abubakar, is running away from. He had said during the primaries that he’ll do just one term if he wins. But those who know Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, know too well that he will NEVER keep to that promise.
Second, they want the immediate resignation of the national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. The ‘unifier’ doesn’t want that as well, because he is already planning a second term, when he hasn’t won the first.
The summary of the fight in the PDP is simple: The Wike Group want Atiku to do one term and hand over to the South if he wins in 2023. Atiku doesn’t want to commit to that anymore.
Governor Wike’s fight is a just fight. But like my friend, Alhaji Shehu asked, “What if Atiku wins and Wike loses this fight?” Wike knows the consequences of his protest. He knows Atiku doesn’t forgive easily, and an Atiku Presidency will attempt to suffocate him and his allies politically. So, they are fighting tomorrow’s fight today.
For Wike, righteousness or holiness, is ones ability to keep to an agreement. He thinks agreements as sacred covenants, and so those who keep to agreements are his best friends. Unfortunately, Atiku has failed his righteousness test, so now they want the agreements in black and white.
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