Wike, PDP G5 and “decentralization” of presidential support

• As Governor of Lagos State House Declaration EchoesRivers, Nyesom Wike has transformed himself, through his recent activities in the group of five governors of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), into Governor General of the South/South geopolitics by acting as President of the Forum of Governors of the South.

But for the unforeseen election crash that befell him during the May 28 PDP presidential primary in Abuja, the Governor of Rivers State had planned to be the one to fly the party flag in view of the presidential contest on February 25, 2023. Absent this electoral concern, however, Wike had embraced the political activism of an opposition leader within his party.

As a veteran of many election battles, the incumbent governor of oil-rich Rivers State had to plan his campaigns by spelling out pre-primary and post-primary election campaign captions, as well by defining the logistics, budgets and incidental costs.

So it goes without saying that the funds and logistics previously budgeted by the governor in anticipation of winning the presidential primary, are being spent on his new venture. Those who expected the cloaked young man to retire to Brick House in Port Harcourt, sulk, lick his wounds and mourn his loss, must have been disappointed.

As a politician who follows his speeches, Nyesom Wike spoke and followed his speeches. First, he declared his opposition to the emerging political structure of the PDP, insisting that the southern flank should be supplemented with the post of president in response to the election of the presidential flag bearer for the northern region.

Wike had claimed that absent this balancing act in the PDP leadership structure, he would not be involved in presidential campaigns. It was on this premise that the refrain Ayu-must-go entered party nomenclature, which is the basis of the call for the resignation of National President Senator Iyorchia Ayu. Wike had also recalled that the national president, Ayu, in recognition of the need for a balance of interests between the North and the South, had pledged to resign in the event that a person from the North like him emerged as the presidential candidate of the left. p>

While it's not easy to pinpoint where the rain of divisive squabbling began to batter the main opposition party, the real battle began inside the presidential primary field in the velodrome of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

The governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who was among the candidates for the presidency, capitulated and decided, shortly before the start of the polls, to step down. Not only did Tambuwal break party rule by taking another opportunity after the initial allotted time for aspirants, but he urged his supporters to vote for a former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

This development reportedly angered Wike, who had threatened to disrupt or invalidate the process, but was pleaded to let the sleeping dogs lie so the PDP could get their act together and sack the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). . Sources revealed that Rivers State was in fact told that there was nothing to worry about that even if he didn't get the ticket, he would be sure to scare off whoever emerged.

But, another turning point was reached when the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, instead of delivering on his original nuanced promise to choose Wike as his running mate, opted for Delta State Governor, Dr Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa.

Although Governor Wike has repeatedly denied interest in the presidential running mate, party insiders say the Rivers State governor cannot accept the possibility of an Okowa being his leader policy in the South/South zone, especially after he (Wike) had invested heavily to support the PDP in his opposition desert.

Not that alone, Wike revealed that soon after he emerged as the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku informed him that since he (Atiku) became the presidential standard bearer, the president national, Dr. Ayu, is expected to leave the office to provide the necessary services. balance in PDP.

Besides the perceived humiliation of being sidelined even after a committee that was set up for the purpose of screening potential VP candidates put him on top, Wike has took up arms on Atiku's information, which was more of a recollection of the events leading up to Ayu's selection as DPP Chairman.

Since the affair broke, Wike has made Ayu's exit the bone of contention, insisting on this conditionality as the basis for establishing a connection with the party and its presidential campaigns. To add weight to his threat, the Governor of Rivers State co-opted Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue State), Dr Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Engineer Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) by his side.

It is with these governors, who have now come...