Wike’s loyalists Fume at Atiku’s choice of Okowa, Predicts Doom for PDP
Loyalists to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his appointees have expressed distraught over the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to pick the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.
THECONSCIENCENG reports that the governor’s loyalists, who reacted shortly after Atiku announced Okowa as his running mate, claimed that the Delta State governor is a featherweight politician and warned that the decision would have implications for the PDP in the 2023 elections.
However, Okowa’s followers and his appointees, described the Delta State governor as a politician, who would add value to the PDP presidential ticket.
Atiku had earlier on Thursday via his Twitter handle, @atiku, announced the governor of Delta State as his running mate.
He said, “I am delighted to announce Governor @IAOkowa as my vice-presidential candidate. I look forward to travelling our great country together, engaging with all Nigerians and building a shared future of peace, unity, and prosperity for all. As one, we can get it done. #OneNigeria. -AA”
But political office holders in Rivers State, in separate interviews,criticised Atiku and warned that his decision would have implications in the 2023 elections.
The Chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Samuel Nwanosike, stated, “There is a local proverb in my village that says nobody will tell a man that eats yam to go and drink water.
“If you are eating yam, you must look for water to drink because if you eat yam without drinking water, it will choke you.”
Nwanosike said although it was the right of Atiku to pick who would fly the party’s ticket with him, he said the former Vice-President did not honour his words to respect the decision of the party which set up a committee to choose a running mate for him.
He stated, “If he kept to his words like he said to go with the party’s overwhelming choice, then he would have respected the decision of the panel, the party’s national chairman and his team set up.”
Nwanosike claimed all stakeholders of the party recommended Wike as Atiku’s running mate.
Asked if Atiku’s preference for Okowa would not affect the former vice-president’s chances, the local government chairman stated, “He has made his calculations. And since he has made his calculations, he (Atiku) will live with the result. He will see out of his calculations. It is not the first time he has been the candidate of the party.
