2023: Setback For Atiku As Longtime Ally Defects To Wike

In a major setback for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, long time ally, immediate past deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Suleiman Nazif has led a group of northern political leaders to purchase and present the PDP presidential nomination forms to Governor Nyesom Wike.

GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that Wike who formally made his intention to vie for the presidency last Sunday has become the biggest threat to Atiku getting a second presidential ticket in the PDP.

Senator Nazif has for long been known to be a scion of the Atiku political machine and journeyed with the former vice-president in his political passages to other political parties.

He contested and won a Senate seat on the platform of Action Congress, AC in 2007, the year that Atiku also contested for the presidency on the same platform.

He led a team of northern politicians under the aegis of Northern Progressives Elements and Friends of Wike to formally present the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to Wike on Tuesday.

A group of friends from the Northeast had also purchased the same forms for Atiku, a consolation that may not wipe away the setback from the loss of Nazif.

Presenting the forms to Wike, Seantor Nazif explained that they decided to pool their resources together to purchase the forms because of their belief in the governor’s love for the country.

“Nigerians are in dire need of a leader that can show courage, a leader  that take them to the promise land and that leader is no other person other than His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike.

“As we present to you this form, we will be by you, stand you. Wherever you stand, you will find all of us around you, so that you can seize and collect that power, and bring that power back to the PDP.”

The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde thanked all who contributed their resources to purchase the forms for the Rivers State governor.

He maintained that Nigeria at this point needs a leader that is energetic and not people that are tired and lack the direction to salvage the country.

“If you look at places around the world, energy and drive is something that you cannot wish away. He is also of the right age and in terms of intellect and commitment to a united, progressive Nigeria, he is also there. So, we are moving in the right direction.

“Well, I will say to others that may also want to purchase their own forms, they are free to collect their forms. They are free to tell us who they are, what they have achieved and their plan for Nigeria. “You may not like his (Wike’s) style but there are certain things that are very clear. Is he committed to a united Nigeria, does he have the intellectual capacity for this job, does he have the drive. So you can collect your form if you wish. But for us, we are desirous of a new Nigeria.”

On his part, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Fayose commended the group and friends of Wike for their kind gesture and declared that, “ Nigeria is at the verge of return to new Nigeria.”

Receiving the forms, Wike without making much noise of the setback to Atiku coming from the support he is receiving from the former Atiku ally, maintained Nigerians can no longer resign to fate, suffer the pains of harsh economy and wanton killings under the watch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.

The governor stated that it was time to save the country from the intractable lies of the APC led Federal Government that is completely bereft of governance.

Governor Wike emphasised that both Nigerians and the PDP do not need persons that will chicken out when intimidated by the APC in the build up to the 2023 general election.

“They have tried it with me. They know that they can never succeed. They did it in Rivers State, we said no, it will never work. And it didn’t work. If you give us the ticket, go home and sleep.”

Governor Wike pointed to how the APC has failed woefully on a continuous basis in addressing economy concerns of Nigerians. According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) boasts of how much it is spending to boost agriculture without visible impact and availability of food.

“Where is the food? Because if you have invested in agriculture we should be seeing the result. Instead of people to eat, people are dying everyday. Who are they deceiving?

“We took oath of office to protect life and property. If we cannot protect life and property there is no governance. You’re talking about food; agriculture.

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