I must confess that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s interview left me totally confused. It was 2 solid hours of rambling and nothing else.
Wike complained about Ayu hugging Tambuwal after the primaries. He claims that it must mean Ayu was working for Atiku’s victory all along. I am not sure I recall anywhere in the PDP’s constitution where it stipulates that the chairman is a referee or a neutral arbiter.
It is now obvious that Wike only chose Ayu as Chairman because he wanted to use him for his own selfish purposes. The only reason why Wike is now in tears is because his plan failed. Nothing more.
Abdulahi Adamu who is APC’s chair also worked for a preferred candidate. That candidate was senate president Ahmed Lawan. Adamu openly endorsed him even before the primaries.
Instead of crying, APC members insited that the primaries be held to determine who their presidential candidate is. They went to Eagles Square and defeated Adamu’s candidate who came a distant 4th with only about 10% of the votes cast in favour of the winner Asiwaj Bola Tinubu.
The APC currently has a Muslim Northern Chairman, A Muslim Northern President and a Muslim Southern Presidential Candidate and Vice Presidential candidate. They are focused on the elections so why should this be different for the PDP.
We might be tempted to argue that the APC is not the standard for best practices and that is very correct but the issue that is clear is that the PDP must focus on defeating the APC in the 2023 election. The APC is in power and has all the machineries of state available to it.
The PDP cannot afford to spend time bickering while Nigerians are in this current state of suffering.
In his lamentation broadcast, Wike also said that Tambuwal was given an opportunity to speak again after his initial speech to announce he was stepping down he then added, with pain, that not only did he step down, he actuallu told his supporters to vote for Atiku.
Let’s go to APC’s presidential primaries obce more. Former speaker Dimeji Bankole after making his speech also came back to announce he was stepping down. He then said his people should vote for Tinubu. Again nobody cried. Not even Osinbajo who is from the same state as Amosun and Dimeji who both stepped down for Tinubu.
I know you will be tempted to say APC is not a good example…so let’s look at Labour. Pat Utomi stepped down in the presidential primaries and endorsed Peter Obi.
There is nothing wrong with this and in my 30 year foray in politics this is something I have witnessed severally even in the recent elections for PM here.
The interesting thing about those shouting for equity is that in their states they do not practice the same.
In Rivers, the current chairman Desmond Akawor and the governorship candidate Sim Fubara are from the same senatorial zone Opobo and Oyigbo are next door neighbours. Wike is not practicing local equity but calling for National equity.
In Oyo. Makinde from Ibadan replaced Ajimobi from Ibadan. Nobody remembered or cared about equity.
In Benue, the Tiv governor Ortom replaced a Tiv governor Suswan and his preferred candidate is Tiv also. Again equity was thrown out of the window.
Those who are calling for equity should first demonstrate it in their own domains. Let us know that they are practicing what they preach.
Equity just like Charity should begin at home.
