Following the crisis that rocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after its presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar failed to choose Nyesom Wike as a running mate, PDP is on its way to ending the feud as the Benue state Governor Samuel Ortorm one of Wike’s close ally has been consulted to wade into the matter.
According to Ortom, Atiku pleaded with him to prevail over the river state governor to let go of the matter and join hands with him to salvage Nigeria.
On this premise, the Benue governor expressed hope that Wike would work with Atiku, ahead of the 2023 polls.
Ortom who made this known while speaking on Arise Television ‘Good Morning Show’ monitored by truthlive.net also debunked the rumour that he is planning to dump the party for another one amid its crisis.
The Benue governor said the move was part of Atiku’s recent effort to bring to an end the crisis caused by his nomination of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the vice presidential candidate instead of Wike as presumed by many.
Truthlive.net recalls that the unveiling of Okowa as his vice presidential candidate had thrown the party into heavy crisis with some factions of the party refusing his choice and others calling for the immediate resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorcha Ayu over what they described as an injustice to wWike who had been the backbone to the party despite the fact that he was recommended by the committee he set up to pick his running mate.
Similarly, the nomination of Okowa’s had caused several of Wike’s factions to threaten to leave the party.
Narrating how Wike stood by him when his stateBenue State was under severe attack by herders, he pledged his unreserved loyalty to him (Wike).
He said: “Efforts are on to resolve the crisis in the party. Our presidential candidate has reached out to me to pacify Wike. Wike stood with me at my worst time when my state was under siege.
“I believe working with Wike will help get a better result. Once Wike is pacified, I will also be pacified. The issue is not about our personal interests, but about Nigeria.
“You will agree that Nigeria is under siege by a cabal that wants to enslave everybody.
“We have been brought from top to bottom; we need everybody to come together to see how we can rescue our country.”
Asked if Wike and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde were planning to defect from the PDP, the PDP chieftain gave responded in the negative.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the delegates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) including Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos paid him a visit recently met with the intent of wooing him to their party on the premise of his dissatisfaction with Atiku.
However, he affirmed that all three governors met and resolved to remain in the PDP and resolve its difference.
Asked why some of them were absent, he said, “I was not around, I travelled. This was a programme that was planned over three months ago. I had to go to the United Kingdom, I had to go to the United States of America. I actually met with Governor Wike in London and met with my brother, the Governor of Oyo State, Makinde and the Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu. That provided an opportunity to brainstorm on what was happening back home – in our party, the PDP especially.”
“One thing I want to assure you and Nigerians is that we are not going to defect to any political party. We are members of PDP. Wike, in particular, has been very instrumental to the growth of our party in the absence of any former president produced by our great party. President Olusegun Obasanjo was produced by this party. You are aware that President Goodluck Jonathan also has issues and he decided not to get involved with what is happening in the party.
“So, Wike was the anchorman. We discussed this matter in our meeting in London and we all agreed we are not leaving the party. But, let there be due process and the need to ensure that everybody is carried along.
“Wike contested. Some of us believed in Southern presidency and we thought Wike was the right person to get the ticket. He did not get it.
“When the issue of vice president came, I want to tell you that I was one of the people that convinced Wike that half a loaf is better than none. You wanted to be president but, God did not make it possible. There is nothing wrong with asking to be the vice president.
“The national leadership must act to bring everyone together to rescue the country, he noted.
According to Ortom, Wike cannot be ignored if the PDP wanted to achieve the desired success in 2023, adding: “I believe our presidential candidate will work with Wike. Once they discuss, and he’s pacified, I will be pacified. I may not be speaking for my other colleagues with whom we are working together. But in our meeting, we agreed that our brother, Governor Wike needed to be pacified and once that is done, all of us will team up together.”