Wike, Makinde, Ortom avoided the launch of Atiku’s campaign.
Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, his counterparts in Oyo and Benue states – Seyi Makinde and Samuel Ortom – will cancel the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state, we heard yesterday. The three aggrieved governors have also canceled the inauguration of the Campaign Council at the Abuja Conference Center on September 28 with their two members – Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikepeazu (Abia).
Also yesterday, Ortom said he will not succumb to harassment and slander from supporters of the PDP National Chief Senator Iyorchia Ayu, who is from Benue State. He argued that since the president had promised that he would flee, if a northerner appeared he should fulfill his promise.
Both Atiku and Ayu have maintained that resignation by Ayu should follow constitutional guidelines.
But, the governor insisted that Ayu step down to pave the way for the southerner in the spirit of fairness, and justice. Atiku, Ayu and the head of the campaign, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, are from the north.
Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara was appointed as Ayu’s representative, in an attempt to show some kind of balance of power within the party. However, Wike’s camp has backed down on the move, saying the BoT is an advisory body and its chairman has no clue.
The appeal launched recently by Wabara to settle the dispute between Atiku and Wike has not yielded the desired results. A worsening crisis of confidence has crept into the National Working Committee (NWC), as members are scattered across the Atiku/Wike camp.
