Wike Returns As Amaechi’s Shadow Dims Room For Manoeuvre

After six days of holiday in Turkey, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State returned to Nigeria on Saturday afternoon with political focus on his intentions following his loss of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential ticket. However, the capacity of Wike to exact revenge on the PDP according to political stakeholders following his return is limited by the lurking shadow of his arch rival, Rotimi Amaechi.

Following the loss at the PDP national convention, a committee constituted by the party had recommended him as the running mate to the winner of the presidential ticket, Atiku Abubakar.

However, Atiku had gone ahead to announce Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, a decision that has not settled well with a significant section of the party who were inclined towards Wike as running mate.

GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that there have been speculations that pressure was brought on Atiku to choose Okowa upon the support given him by the Delta State governor ahead of the primaries, and also, by some influential northern leaders who were opposed to Wike as vice-president.

It was gathered that the same factors who brought Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal to step down for Atiku at the PDP convention were also involved in fencing Wike away from the position of vice-presidential candidate.

Following the announcement of Okowa as running mate, Wike met with a number of opposition leaders including Peter Obi of Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.

Following the meetings, Wike proceeded on Monday to Turkey alongside with one of his key supporters, Governor Okeize Ikpeazu of Abia State.

They returned to the country on Saturday with Wike now becoming the centre of attraction from PDP leaders and ruling party officials of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

GreenWhiteGreen GWG gathered that with the presidential election and the National Assembly elections holding the same day, and the governorship election holding next, and with Wike having cast all his eggs in the PDP basket, that his room for manouvere is now limited.

“He cannot afford to do anti-party activity as he cannot afford to work against his own interests in the National Assembly and the governorship,” a source familiar with the developments said.

Even more, it was gathered that Wike’s arch rival, Rotimi Amaechi who has been lying low since leaving office as Transportation Minister is also preparing for one last battle creeping in from the shadows.

It was gathered that Amaechi is being backed by key allies in the presidency ahead of the next battle with Wike and it was for that reason that he was allowed to nominate the two new ministers from Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.

Even more, his nominee from Akwa Ibom State, Umana Umana may be nominated as Godswill Akpabio’s replacement as minister of Niger Delta, a move sources say is to prepare Amaechi to fully battle his rival, Wike, in 2023 in Rivers.

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