PDP Peace Parley Uncertain As Wike Remains Reluctant To Meet Ayu

The meeting between the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Nyesom Wike remains uncertain as the Rivers State Governor is unwilling to meet with the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

Naija News recalls that the PDP chairman had confirmed that the NWC would meet with Wike and other aggrieved members of the party to achieve reconciliation ahead of the general election.

Reach Out To Wike And Other Governors

Speaking during a visit to the new chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, Ayu had asked Wabara to reach out to the Rivers State governor and others over the crisis rocking the party.

The PDP national chairman also asked the new BoT chairman to ensure efforts are in top gear for the party’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.

He said, “I am calling on you to lead in reaching out to our aggrieved members.

“You have the full support of myself, the candidate (Atiku Abubakar), and the whole NWC to reach out to Governor Wike, all the other governors, and any other person who is aggrieved. Plead with them to come back, and let’s work together in the PDP family.

“If we don’t win next year, Nigerians will be very disappointed. The hope of Nigeria is on us.

“So, as the new BoT chairman and with your diplomatic experience, we implore you to use your diplomatic skills to reach out to all our aggrieved members.

“It is with your full support, including that of the presidential candidate and the vice-presidential candidate. We are appealing that they should come back and let us work together.”

Uncertain PDP Peace Parley

But yesterday, it was learned that the meeting scheduled for Wednesday and to be held in Port Harcourt by the NWC delegation, which is to be led by the PDP Deputy National Chairman (North), Illiya Damagun, still hangs in the balance.

According to Daily Sun, members of the NWC said they were unsure of the exact date of the Port Harcourt meeting, as there was no official information to that effect.

One of the NWC members, who is also a PDP national vice chairman, disclosed that he was not aware of the planned visit, noting that, “if it is tomorrow (today), we would have been notified by now.”

Another member of the party organ noted that the leadership would have to secure a convenient time for the peace mission to Rivers State. “We will have to get a convenient time.”

A highly placed member of the PDP said that Wike’s position on the crisis would not change as he is still insisting that Ayu must go for a southerner to take his place to ensure equity and justice in the party.

The source said: “How many meetings will they have before they do the right thing? It is not just by having meetings. What is important is for people to do things with honour and integrity. Just the other day, you called some people children and today, you are scheduling a meeting for reconciliation. Meanwhile, the subject of the crisis is that Ayu, a northerner must go for a southerner to take his place.

“That is the right thing to do and until it is done, what is the essence of holding a reconciliation meeting.”