Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Despite heightened optimism for an imminent reconciliation between the Atiku Abubakar camp and the Nyesom Wike-led G5 governors late last week, it appears that the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might not be ending anytime soon.
This is because the condition the G5 governors are giving for resolution of the crisis and full reconciliation is proving to be a hard nut to crack.
They have been demanding for the resignation of the PDP national chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu and the appointment of a Southerner as his replacement, as condition for reconciliation and peace.
But latest revelations from sources close to the PDP national leadership and the Atiku camp indicate that pro-Atiku forces are strongly opposing the idea of Ayu’s resignation while many of the party’s leaders are also considering other implications that might arise should they succumb to the Wike camp’s demand and force their national chairman out.
One of the sources, who is very close to an aide of Atiku, told TPCN on Monday under strict condition of anonymity: “From what am seeing for now, this crisis may still linger for sometime because Atiku’s supporters and many of the PDP chieftains are still sceptical about meeting the condition given by the G5 governors which is that Dr Ayu should resign.
“They’re giving various reasons why Dr Ayu shouldn’t be forced out like that. And Dr Ayu himself is not ready to resign because to him, his position is protected by the constitution of the party and he insists that Governor Wike and his group have no right to push him out.”
The G5 governors had, last week in Bauchi during their visit to the state governor, expressed their readiness for reconciliation.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, explained: “I have said it several times that we are ready for reconciliation; we have not closed the door for reconciliation. All we are asking for is equity, fairness and justice and that is the hallmark PDP stands for. All we are saying, let the right things be done. When the right thing is done, the country would see that the crisis in the party is over.
“These G5 governors, we are saying, are the bedrock of the party, so we would not close the doors for reconciliation. We are for reconciliation any day, any time.”
Wike’s statement received a favourable response from the Atiku camp which also indicated interest in working for reconciliation and peace.
Paul Ibe, media adviser to the PDP presidential candidate, reacted to the G5 governors’ statement thus: “Atiku Abubakar also expresses his commitment to a negotiation that will resolve the crisis of confidence and pave the way for a much stronger and united PDP.
“The former vice president of Nigeria notes that never at anytime of the differences have the doors been shut to Governor Wike and his group. He enjoins every leader of the party and their supporters, irrespective of their leaning, to be open-minded and support the process of resolution of the extant issues.”
But these assurances of commitment to reconciliation by both camps notwithstanding, efforts by the Atiku camp to kick-start the process have remained futile, according to inside sources.
It was gathered that after issuing the statement in reaction to that of the G5 governors, Atiku, determined to prove his sincere disposition to reconciliation, has since Thursday last week, embarked on private consultations and secret meetings with leaders of the party and his key supporters on the steps toward reconciliation with Wike and his group.
It was learnt that while the PDP stakeholders welcomed the idea of reconciliation and resolution of the crisis, the bone of contention is the issue of resignation of their national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, which is the condition being given by the Wike-led G5 governors for peace to reign.
The stakeholders, we gathered, see the demand for Ayu’s resignation as unfeasible.
Our source that is close to one of Atiku’s aides revealed that some of Atiku’s supporters and party chieftains from the northern part of the country see Governor Wike and his group’s demand for Ayu’s resignation as an insult on the party and the sensibilities of PDP members of northern extraction.
The source said: “They are feeling that the party has rules and laws that should be obeyed. They’re saying that the constitution of the party zoned that position to the north which Dr Ayu is occupying and are wondering why they should force him to resign because of five persons who want him to go for their own interest.
“Their argument is that if Wike had won the primary, would all this noise about Ayu have come up and that if he truly believed in equity and justice, why didn’t he allow only the South East to contest the presidential primaries since both the South-West and his own South-South have produced presidents in the past?
“These are the arguments they’re presenting to Atiku and the party leadership. And that’s why they’re saying that they won’t support the call for Ayu’s resignation.
“They made it clear that the integrity of the party would be jeopardized if they succumb to Wike and his G5 governors’ demand.
“Right now the Turaki Adamawa is in a dilemma over this matter. But he still wants to resolve the crisis so that he can focus on his campaign because time is running out. So he’s still consulting and having meetings. He’s not resting on his oars at all.”
But there seem to be another twist to the crisis. A well informed source told TPCN that another reason why Atiku is in a very tight corner is because his supporters in the states of the 5G governors are also opposed to the removal of Ayu as being demanded by the Wike group.
The source said: “You won’t believe it that Atiku’s supporters in Rivers, Abia, Benue, Enugu and Oyo where the 5G governors come from are vehemently against the call for Ayu’s resignation. They are of the opinion that the party should allow every status quo to remain till after the 2023 elections.
“Their fear is that if Ayu is removed and the party decides to set aside the constitutional provision that recommends that the deputy national chairman takes over in acting capacity – who in this case is Mr Umar Damagun, also from the north – and go for a southerner for the sake of peace, that southerner that will come could be under the perpetual control of Wike and his group.
This is the fear of these Atiku supporters. They believe that a situation where the national chairman of the entire party is under the control of one man or a few persons will not augur well for the party.”
According to the source, these plethora of arguments are some of the reasons why the crisis in the PDP has not been resolved.
The source, however, expressed hope that with continuous consultations and appeals, all the parties could end up making concessions that would pave way for a permanent resolution of the crisis and return of peace to the PDP.
How soon this will happen is what Nigerians are anxiously waiting to see.
