Anxiety As Fintri, Gana, Lead Atiku, Wike Camps To Peace Meeting

There are indications that barring any last-minute change of plans, the peace committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to resolve all contentious issues between their two camps would meet on Monday in Abuja.

Daily Sun gathered that the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, is expected to lead Atiku’s camp comprising Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Waziri; former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke and  former Ondo State PDP governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede to the talks.

Former minister of information, Jerry Gana is expected to lead the Wike camp and he will be supported by former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, former  Ondo State governor, Segun Mimiko and former minister of justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke in the talk with the Atiku camp.

One of Atiku’s spokesmen, Segun Sowunmi, confirmed to Daily Sun that Fintiri will be leading the PDP candidate’s side to the peace talks. However, Sowunmi said he could not confirm the identity of the other members of the team.

Nevertheless, he said, “ I would have preferred that it is not really seen as an Atiku/Wike committee. I would have preferred that you saw it as a PDP committee trying to figure out how to close the gaps between two sides.  Having said that, our expectations is that when they meet, they will put the intention of a political party in opposition that want to win government above all other things.

“There is nobody that is a PDP member that is not tired of these issues. We hope that if they go that meeting, they will come out with positions that are acceptable to all sides and the conversation around the country and how we are going to form government can start.”

How Okowa’s Nomination Divided Atiku, Wike Camps

The nomination of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as Atiku’s running mate had triggered a crisis with Wike’s expressing misgivings that he was not chosen as the opposition party’s vice presidential candidate nor given the right of first refusal.

The situation has since degenerated into a brickbat between the Rivers State governor and some supporters of the PDP candidate, including Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliyu, former governors of Jigawa and Niger states respectively.

Last month, the Wike supporters met in Abuja to review current developments in the party. The group allegedly resolved that the national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, must be replaced with a southerner as a condition for reconciliation.

In the aftermath of Wike’s meeting with his supporters, Atiku met with the Rivers governor at Gana’s  Abuja residence, where both men agreed to set up a committee of equal number to resolve all contentious issues. The committee will thereafter submit its report to a larger committee.

However, the PDP  National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, while responding to question on the alleged stance of the Wike camp that Ayu must be replaced as a condition, said it is speculative.

Ologunagba stated that negotiations are usually “give and take”, adding that every member of the party is committed to its unity as well as the interest of the country.

According to him, “when people go to negotiation, they are poles apart. Then you work on what is called give and take. But the give and take, you don’t destroy the whole. You don’t destroy the whole for the part. It is not about been hard on this. It is about been realistic.

“My point is this: we respect peoples interest. We salute their courage. We respect peoples need to request for anything. But there must be a negotiation. When people say this or nothing, it means they don’t want negotiation. I don’t think that is here in the party” he said of the enthusiasm for peace in the camps of Atiku and Wike.

Source: Daily Sun

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