Atiku meets Wike over unity, stability of PDP
By ONYEMA GODWIN, Port Harcourt
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has met with the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt on Thursday, over efforts to pursue the unity and stability of the party.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting in Port Harcourt, the PDP Presidential Candidate in the 2019 elections said that unifying and stabilising the party was critical for the party in clenching electoral victory in 2003.
The leading opposition party in Nigeria has been experiencing a major internal crisis that if not resolved would jeopardize it’s chances in the coming 2023 political dispensation.
The party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus and Governor Nyesom Wike, one of the major financiers of the party have been having a frosty relationship that is threatening the unity of the party ahead of the coming general elections.
Atiku who described the meeting as fruitful said; “Well, I came here to reconcile with the governor on party affairs and how we can ensure that there is unity and stability in the party.
“So, that we can take over government in 2023. I believe that Nigerians can’t wait for 2023 to come so that PDP will return.”
He added that Nigerians were waiting eagerly for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take over power at the federal level in 2023.
Speaking on the current insecurity challenges that have overwhelmed the capacity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government, Alhaji Atiku described the prevailing situation in the country as bad.
He urged Nigerians to wait for the appropriate time when PDP shall unveil its policies on how it wants to address the issue of insecurity across the country.
“I have never seen it (insecurity) this bad. I am 70 years plus, I have never seen it this bad in terms of security challenges, in terms of economy, in terms of unemployment. This is the worst.
“Why can’t you give us time. We will come up with our policies. We will present them to Nigerians when the time comes.
“We have done that before. Under PDP, we recorded the highest economic growth, the best foreign reserves, we reduced unemployment. You know that we can do it?
The former vice president also acknowledged the tremendous leadership success recorded by governor Wike, who he described as the topmost governor among his peers in the party.
He said; “I think he (Wike) is the topmost governor we have in the party. There is no doubt about that in terms of projects, youths and employment, in terms of security. Yes, we have security challenges all over the country.”
He further commended the governor for his outstanding leadership and sterling performance in office. (Nigerian Tribune)
