A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Anietie Okon has warned the opposition party against ignoring Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his camp.
Okon stated that any attempt by the PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to ignore Wike will spell doom for the party in the 2023 general elections.
Okon, the pioneer National Publicity Secretary of the party in an interview with The Punch in Uyo on Sunday, said Wike is one of the formidable forces in the party who has stood by it at all times and cannot be ignored.
He described Wike as a foremost participant of the PDP who had contributed time and resources to build and sustain the party.
“Wike has been a strong participant of the party. He has done so much for the PDP and has remained a faithful party man. So, thinking of ignoring him is like taking a killer decision, not after a committee set up by the party voted strongly for him. This is very important, every other consideration is immaterial.
“Therefore, I will advise Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate, whom I have congratulated to stand by him to do everything possible to handle the situation amicably for the 2023 presidential election,” he said.
Supporters of Wike are still angry over the outcome of the presidential primary won by Atiku, and have given conditions that are difficult for Atiku and the PDP to embrace.
The situation was said to have worsened when Atiku picked the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate against Wike, who was recommended by the Ad hoc committee set up for that purpose.
Reacting to the development, some PDP leaders and Governors have openly expressed their displeasure over the choice of Okowa and how Wike was treated in the saga.
However, some APC governors led by Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State visited Wike in Port Harcourt last week Friday.
