Atiku in a new movement to solve the PDP crisis
Ayu's arrogance makes reconciliation difficult –Ortom's ally
The need to give People's Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar enough time to correct "a big anomaly" in the party ahead of February's election is why five disgruntled governors were elected on the party platform are open to reconciliation, Saturday PUNCH can authoritatively reveal.
Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia States demand the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, on the grounds that the party cannot have a presidential candidate and its president from the same regional bloc.
Although they (the aggrieved governors) have successfully inaugurated their respective campaign councils, the governors alongside their loyalists have been consistent in their position that reconciliation is possible in the interest of the party if only the right thing is done.
The Governors, this psychic learned, had no personal ax to settle with Atiku and would have considered working with him if only Ayu would unreservedly apologize to them given that he didn't had not kept his promise that he would leave his post if a northerner became the presidential candidate of the PDP.
A source who works closely with one of the aggrieved governors told Saturday PUNCH that "Governors are aware of the implications of teaming up with a presidential candidate from another party. They don't blame Atiku much even though they think he could have done more.
"The problem is Ayu who made a promise but reneged on it. I think things would change if the man (the national president) could be diplomatic in his speeches. That it costs him nothing to apologize to these governors so that peace reigns,” he said.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that following the group's declaration of a desire to embrace peace recently, Atiku called on his loyalists to reach out and negotiate with them in an effort to get them back to the campaign council fold.
Confirming this development, the media advisor to the former vice-president, Mr. Paul Ibe, told our correspondent that the PDP presidential candidate had already activated a mediation team to work on the peace between the two parties.< /p>
He said: "When aggrieved governors said they were open to reconciliation, we issued a statement in which His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar welcomed the idea and reiterated his commitment to mediation. As we speak, many engagements are underway, but we don't want this to be a media affair.
"Talks are ongoing and we are confident that this crisis will be over and everyone, including the G-5, will join us and join the campaign board before the elections in February."
Meanwhile, an associate of Governor Ortom who doesn't want his name in print blamed what he called Ayu's arrogance in the months-long crisis.< /p>
According to him, the crisis would now be over if the former president of the Senate had been humble enough to reach out to the aggrieved party and talk less.
He said, "Ayu is the reason the party is still talking about reconciliation efforts so far. Governor Ortom called him and said, 'Mr. President, you should be happy that I am part of the G-5". He promised to take her to see his colleagues. But Ayu's statements made reconciliation difficult. The man is too arrogant.
"He talks like he's the only one who went to school. You know he once called the governor's kids, who weren't there when they trained the party. When he attends public functions, he speaks in a way that no party leader would speak. APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu will not speak of their governors like that, no matter how point they do not agree with him.
"Are the governors ready to sheathe their swords? I will say yes. However, the National President must be careful of his words. As an elder, he must learn to remain calm."
A few months ago, the party's board formed a seven-man committee to tackle the crisis.
Their recommendations that Ayu should pledge to step down after the election were not accepted by either the president or the Wike-led group.
Furthermore, the resignation of former BoT Chairman Senator Walid Jibrin to pave the way for the emergence of Adolphus Wabara has failed to appease governors who have insisted that the seat of Ayu return to the South.
Similarly, former Senate President Bukola Saraki's reconciliation efforts failed to calm the raw nerves.
All these p...
The need to give People's Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar enough time to correct "a big anomaly" in the party ahead of February's election is why five disgruntled governors were elected on the party platform are open to reconciliation, Saturday PUNCH can authoritatively reveal.
Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia States demand the resignation of the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, on the grounds that the party cannot have a presidential candidate and its president from the same regional bloc.
Although they (the aggrieved governors) have successfully inaugurated their respective campaign councils, the governors alongside their loyalists have been consistent in their position that reconciliation is possible in the interest of the party if only the right thing is done.
The Governors, this psychic learned, had no personal ax to settle with Atiku and would have considered working with him if only Ayu would unreservedly apologize to them given that he didn't had not kept his promise that he would leave his post if a northerner became the presidential candidate of the PDP.
A source who works closely with one of the aggrieved governors told Saturday PUNCH that "Governors are aware of the implications of teaming up with a presidential candidate from another party. They don't blame Atiku much even though they think he could have done more.
"The problem is Ayu who made a promise but reneged on it. I think things would change if the man (the national president) could be diplomatic in his speeches. That it costs him nothing to apologize to these governors so that peace reigns,” he said.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that following the group's declaration of a desire to embrace peace recently, Atiku called on his loyalists to reach out and negotiate with them in an effort to get them back to the campaign council fold.
Confirming this development, the media advisor to the former vice-president, Mr. Paul Ibe, told our correspondent that the PDP presidential candidate had already activated a mediation team to work on the peace between the two parties.< /p>
He said: "When aggrieved governors said they were open to reconciliation, we issued a statement in which His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar welcomed the idea and reiterated his commitment to mediation. As we speak, many engagements are underway, but we don't want this to be a media affair.
"Talks are ongoing and we are confident that this crisis will be over and everyone, including the G-5, will join us and join the campaign board before the elections in February."
Meanwhile, an associate of Governor Ortom who doesn't want his name in print blamed what he called Ayu's arrogance in the months-long crisis.< /p>
According to him, the crisis would now be over if the former president of the Senate had been humble enough to reach out to the aggrieved party and talk less.
He said, "Ayu is the reason the party is still talking about reconciliation efforts so far. Governor Ortom called him and said, 'Mr. President, you should be happy that I am part of the G-5". He promised to take her to see his colleagues. But Ayu's statements made reconciliation difficult. The man is too arrogant.
"He talks like he's the only one who went to school. You know he once called the governor's kids, who weren't there when they trained the party. When he attends public functions, he speaks in a way that no party leader would speak. APC Chairman Abdullahi Adamu will not speak of their governors like that, no matter how point they do not agree with him.
"Are the governors ready to sheathe their swords? I will say yes. However, the National President must be careful of his words. As an elder, he must learn to remain calm."
A few months ago, the party's board formed a seven-man committee to tackle the crisis.
Their recommendations that Ayu should pledge to step down after the election were not accepted by either the president or the Wike-led group.
Furthermore, the resignation of former BoT Chairman Senator Walid Jibrin to pave the way for the emergence of Adolphus Wabara has failed to appease governors who have insisted that the seat of Ayu return to the South.
Similarly, former Senate President Bukola Saraki's reconciliation efforts failed to calm the raw nerves.
All these p...
What's Your Reaction?
