A Special Assistant to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Hon. Frank Shuaibu, has asked Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike to first demonstrate fairness and justice in his home state before asking the party to sack its national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
Speaking on African Independent Television (AIT) programme, Democracy Today, monitored in Abuja, Thursday, Frank Shuaibu said it is wrong for Wike to talk about fairness, equity and justice in the position of national chairman of the party whereas the party chairman in Rivers state is from the same senatorial district with the governorship candidate.
According to him, the governorship candidate of the PDP in Rivers state, Hon. Siminialayi Fabura is from Opobo Nkoro local government area while the state chairman of the party, Desmond Akawor, is from Oyigbo local government area, all in Rivers South-East senatorial zone.
He said for Wike’s group to insist that Dr Ayorchia Ayu should resign in the interest of fairness and equity, while he does not see anything wrong with that of his home state is double standard.
Speaking on the provision of the party in Section 7 Sub section 3, Shuaibu said you cannot read that in isolation of section 552 which says: “If you remove the chairman or he resigns, the vice chairman from the same zone with that particular chairman takes over.”
“As things are today, we are speaking to a nation, so it is not about an individual but about Nigeria. If we want to rescue Nigeria, that is, change the situation, you have to return for instance a bag of rice to 7000 from the current N38, 000. We must watch what we say.
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar has a great respect for Governor Nyesom Wike, and that he has shown in person; in his choice of language and throughout what he exhibited on the run up to the primary election. Of course there are other aspirants during the primary election, not forgetting that we are talking about equity, fairness and justice.
“Let’s even rely on section 7(3). As at the time we went into the primary, was there equity, fairness and justice? The answer is yes. So, what has changed? Has the emergence of Atiku Abubakar suddenly distorted the whole thing? The answer is no. Atiku Abubakar is only a candidate of the party; he is not a president yet.
“I am particularly happy because Governor Nyesom Wike is a lawyer. He delved into politics and has done credibly well for the people. He is one of the postal boys of the PDP administration, we love him. We know his antecedents. We know what he can do but the issue is about the rule of law. We must do the right thing.
“I remember, in 2014 when President Goodluck Jonathan wanted to go for second term, Rotimi Ameachi was the governor. They insisted Bamanga Tukur must go, and they brought former governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Muazu. In fact they called him the game changer. We all know what transpired ; so we must be very careful.”
