Kindly permit a space on your widely read medium to respond to the above topic which was published on your website on November 4, 2022, written by George Kerley from Rivers state. The writer is under the illusion that Wike (Wake; just replace the i in the name, you have a new name in Hausa. No fun intended) needs nothing in his current standoff with the largest political party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), rather than justice, equity, and fairness! While, I think George is telling this to the people that live in another clime not our Nigeria, or he is telling a story to kindergarten pupils!
Since the presidential primaries of the national opposition party in Nigeria, PDP, a lot of water is passing under the bridge! The primary election of an opposition political party is supposed to galvanise the party ideally, but this of the PDP, is the opposite. This is despite the opportunities on ground for a powerful party like PDP to easily dislodge the ruling party due to its abysmal and woeful performance. Alas, some disgruntled elements with ulterior motives are out to destroy the party if their selfish interest is not met.
The writer argued that Wike found Atiku Abubakar (AA) an unworthy candidate for the party in the 2023 presidential elections. So, why did Wike support AA tooth and nail in 2019? The writer argued because AA fought the party severally, thus not worthy to be fielded as the party’s presidential candidate. A clear contradiction. AA fought the PDP before the 2019 presidential primaries of the party, thus, why did Wike support AA at that time?
Mr. George said “Methinks that Nyesom Wike does not just believe that Atiku Abubakar is the kind of president that PDP, the so called largest political party in Africa, should be fielding in the 2019; or 2022 as the case may now be”. For what reasons? The writer unwisely refused to expatiate, best to him.
The writer argued that the core issue of Wike is that of the removal of the PDP national chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. According to him “…to push the strength of the value that he believes he brings to the table, Wike has asked for the removal of Iyorchia Ayu as chairman of PDP.” Why would Ayu be removed? This is the question neither the foot soldiers nor Wike can definitively provide an answer to. Their shallow argument is that, AA is from the North of river Niger as the same with Ayu. They blindly forget that Ayu is duly elected, while AA is nominated. Ayu can only be removed under the conditions stipulated in the PDP constitution, anything else will drag the PDP into endless litigation with election right in its (PDP) front door.
Wike and his co-travelers on this shallow argument of AA and Ayu coming from the North, forget how PDP was managed under President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan. They all forget that Dr. Ahmadu Ali was the PDP chairman and Umaru Musa Yar’adua was the presidential candidate, both of them from the North. After the demise of Yar’adua, and ascending of Jonathan to the highest office in the land, Dr. Okwesileze Nwodo became the PDP national chairman with Jonathan as president, all of them from the South of river Niger. Thus, the argument of Wike is dead on arrival.
To answer George’s question of what really, really Wike wants, it is simple. Wike wants three things or two.
First, and utmost is immunity from prosecution from the alleged mismanagement and all that is said to have been committed under his watch in Rivers state. Just at the eve of the gubernatorial primary elections, the EFCC declared wanted the PDP gubernatorial candidate (who happened to be the immediate past accountant general of Rivers state), on allegation of over N200 billion fraud. Thus, the fight Wike was doing had a fundamental reason – to avoid going to prison after office in 2023.
Secondly, the eventuality of politics. Wike wants to take full control of PDP in case the PDP loses the presidential election (this is what Wike and his foot soldiers, particularly the five governors following him, really, really want. They believe PDP cannot win the election, thus, need PDP in their pocket for their 2027 politicking). So, Wike having full control of PDP after the 2023 elections, while he is out of office, he believes he can use the party to fight his personal fight.
Another nonsensical reason raised by Wike, according to the writer, was that “candidate Atiku should sign an agreement that he will only do a single four-year term.” Why single term for AA? Is there any constitutional provision that sanctions AA or any presidential or even any political office seeker to a single term? Or is Wike the new constitution of the Federal Republic to force or cajole AA to a single term agreement? This is a clear indication how desperate Wike is about power, and believe the only way of grabbing that power is by having PDP in his pocket. Forcing AA to sign that agreement is an apparent submission to Wike, thus, becoming a teleguided president.
George went further by saying “Governor Wike says he cannot vouch for candidate Atiku as president of Nigeria, so many of us cannot vote for Atiku. It is that simple.” This is one beauty of democracy, whereby citizens have the right to choose from multiple candidates that are available. As you opted out from AA and PDP umbrella to be squatting in someone’s backyard, other voters are more than willing to come to AA’s backyard, thus, is a swapping pattern. No wonder Wike is in cohabitation with APC big shots in the South-west, particularly in Lagos.
One interesting aspect of Wike’s play is that of the outcome of the play. The outcome will be more interesting than what we are being entertained with currently. There are two unavoidable scenarios to this Wike’s play, with both having similar if not the same consequences for player-in-chief-Wike. The first scenario is if AA wins the 2023 presidential election it is really going to be too interesting on how Wike and his co-travelers (especially the AIGs, as well the rest of the governors in his camp) will react. At that material time, both the state and PDP apparatus were at the disposal of AA. Paramount to that is who will replace Ayu will absolutely be determined by AA, and Wike dares not to even smell it.
The other scenario is if AA loses the presidential election, Ayu will continue to be the national chairman. As usual, (with all the bribery alleged by Wike, they will try all legitimate or illegitimate ways of removing Ayu, that time Wike will be completely naked in the market by Ayu and AA’s team) Ayu and AA will do everything to hold on to PDP, because it is the only path to political relevance. Thus, the fight will be too dirty at that time. Why? They are not in need of Wike’s political influence at that material time. That will be the time both Wike and his camp will understand the proverbial “cat with nine lives” which AA is.
One important reminder to Mr. George and the entire Wike’s camp was what was put by Dr. Anthony Phillips writing on this paper when he said “Your play book is in the market place already. You have a great deal to learn about Nigerian politics. It is a world different from your local politics. Upon reflection, you probably would have learnt some things from your relationship with Sule Lamido, Alimodu Sheriff, and now Ayu. How can you want to be Nigerian president and you cannot understand the simple basic rules of building relationships? Who are your friends?” This is a very important reminder to Wike, particularly the role he played in bringing down numerous PDP chairmen from grace to grass.
This Wike and his people also need to reflect on Sani Danaudi Mohammed when he was quoting Charles de Gaulle by saying “Since politicians never believe what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word. In other words, politicians do not believe their own words and those who believe them do so at the cost of their own reputations.”
Mr. George also referred to Atiku’s fight with PDP, rather, it should be within the PDP. Atiku has been fighting within the PDP since 2003. Almost each and every presidential election comes, Atiku is in fight within the PDP till when he is chased out of the party. What Mr. George needs to remember at these fights of Atiku is that he is fighting the PDP, the retired Generals of the Nigerian Armed Forces (who constituted the bulk financier of PDP), and federal government of Nigeria at times. At the end of all these fights, Atiku came out with strengths, active, and political relevance (as always, the PDP wooed him back to its fold) politically and nationally. Would Wike replicate this? Only time will tell. But I doubt much.
It is pertinent to always remember that, it is not fighting that is important, but coming out of the fight successful and standing on your feet. Whether Atiku wins this 2023 presidential election or not, Wike’s survival in the PDP is highly doubted. Wike should have fought silently against this radical approach that would not take him any further in his political sojourn. One pertinent feature of PDP is its capability of addressing internal wrangling amicably.
Wike and his people need to remember that Hausa musician named PDP as “shegiyar uwa mai kasha yayanta”, translating into “the stupid mother that is killing her children”.
Abdullahi from Dallas, Texas, United States via [email protected]
Re: What does Wike really, really want?
