PDP Crisis: Northern Group Rejects Atiku, Endorses Wike As Party Leader
As the crisis over who controls the soul of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, rages on, a northern group has rejected the overtures of the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and rooted for the leadership of the Minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Just three days to the crucial meeting of the national executive council, NEC of the party, Arewa PDP Transparency Group said the recent media war over who becomes the national leader of the major opposition party to champion the affairs of the PDP in Thursday’s NEC, meeting was unnecessary since Wike has the capacity to turn the fortunes of the party around for good.
A statement by Hon Haruna Bature, national chairman of Arewa PDP Transparency Group on Monday said “leadership means care, concern and responsibility. It is not self serving, not periodic and not spontaneous. The PDP as the biggest opposition party in Africa has suffered a lot of Leadership Crises which resulted in its loss of Power at the National Level from 2015 till date.
“These Crises are largely self inflicted due to insensitivity, lack of political vision, lack of care, concern and respect for the Vision of the Founding Fathers of the Party, and for the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian Citizenry. Charity, they say, begins at home. A Party whose Leadership cannot take care of its own and showing good leadership definitely cannot take care of Nigeria and offer good Leadership.
“We wish to particularly bring to the attention of the Leadership of the Party that the Fears by some PDP Leaders about His Excellency, Chief Barr. E. N. Wike’s appointment in an APC Government is born out of jealousy, hate, bitterness, bias and their blindness to the political reality that the failure by the PDP to ensure power rotation to the South led to its loss of power at the centre.
If such fears are genuine as they claim, why was the PDP still able to win Governorship and other elections in States across the Nation?”
Bature noted in the statement made available in Port Harcourt that having assessed the performances of these leaders, “Arewa PDP Transparency Group says no Self Serving leadership only at times of political interest, non-inclusivity, lack of concern, sustenance and responsibility in the management of the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party and here by endorse Barr. Nyesome Wike.