By Isaac Asabor
It is not an exaggeration to say that since the last 86 hours when the news began to filter on the media landscape that a Panel constituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recommended Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike as running mate to the party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar that not few individuals and groups kicked against the recommendation.
The Panel took the decision on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, after a marathon meeting of the National Advisory Committee, an ad-hoc panel set up by the party leadership to recommend a suitable running mate for the candidate, took the decision. It was gathered that Wike was picked following a voice vote. He polled 16 votes out of 20. Three other governors – Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) were dropped for the Rivers governor.
Other members include PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).
Also on the panel are former governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger).
Senator Philip Aduda (FCT), Reps Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu and former Senate President David Mark are also members.
It was gathered that Atiku has on May 30 offered Wike the vice presidential slot but the governor was said to have pleaded for time to enable him to make consultations. It was further learnt that Governor Ortom was consulted by Wike.
However, as soon as the news of his nomination began to trend, the leadership of the Islamic rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) warned former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, to avoid falling for the temptation of picking Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as his running mate in the 2023 election.
The Islamic rights group expressed fears that the Rivers State Governor may create a worse situation and an unconducive environment for Muslims in Nigeria if he becomes a vice president of the country.
In a statement issued by MURIC’s Director General, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group said if Atiku is desirous of getting votes from Muslims in the election, he should not pick Wike as his vice presidential candidate as the Rivers Governor is “one of the bigoted Christian governors who had been blacklisted by Nigerian Muslims.”
Beside group condemnations that trailed the news that he was nominated by Atiku as his running mate, individuals were also seen talking in hush-hush tones about his noticeable brash behavior as a governor. The foregoing cannot be farfetched as he had for the umpteenth time been seen at public events where he exhibited brash behaviors which were mostly disapproved even as not few Nigerians perceive him to be too assertive, overbearing and aggressive.
In fact, not few commentators were of the view that he had during his visit to seek the support of delegates in Benin-city ahead of the party’s primary election held in May 2022 where he polled 237 votes, that he boasted he will not accept the position of vice president in the 2023 elections.
He said, “I’m not coming out to negotiate to be vice to anyone, I’m coming out to contest for the number one position in the country,” Mr. Wike, he was reported to have told the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benin, Edo State, during his visit.
However, given the latest news, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has announced Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate. Atiku made the announcement at a meeting attended by PDP executives at the party’s headquarters in Abuja. PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, said a 17-member committee had been set up by the party to pick a running mate. He said the committee had submitted three names to Atiku to choose from. The final decision however, Ayu said, was Atiku’s.
Speaking at the announcement event, Atiku said making a choice between the three names had been a difficult decision.
He also noted that some of the qualities he looked out for include someone who understands the enormity of the challenges facing the country and one who has demonstrated, from experience, that he can proffer some solutions, and added that he looked out for one who has the qualities of a president, who can stand in for him when he’s not around. According to him, while all the three names submitted were qualified, he had to settle for just one, who is Okowa.
Without sounding panegyric in this piece, it is expedient to say that the announcement of Okowa as Atiku’s running mate is an ‘Icing on the cake’ for the PDP in the bid for its victory come 2023, and given the fact that Okowa is a performer.
Without any scintilla of exaggeration, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has been providing credible service to the people who freely gave him their mandates trusting in his capacity to deliver. In 2015 after the Party primaries election that saw his emergence as the flag bearer of the PDP, the Smart Agenda began like every other normal political mantra, and there is no doubt that Smart Agenda has long gone beyond a mere mantra to becoming a clear policy direction of a very focused and people oriented government in Delta state.
In less than 24 hours after his announcement as Atiku’s running mate, not few people were unanimous in their views that Okowa’s nomination is a perfect combination that will no doubt give the PDP resounding victory at the presidential poll come 2023. In fact, without beating around the bush, his nomination is no doubt the ‘Icing on the cake’ needed by the party to win its closest opponent, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
