Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has reportedly told Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate that had the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) picked Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as its presidential candidate, he would have declared support for the Vice President after he lost out in the PDP primaries.
A source close to the meeting which was held at Namadi Sambo’s residence in Abuja said that Wike gave Atiku some conditions if they must work together and he made it clear that if Atiku doesn’t meet the conditions, he might be forced to work with Peter Obi.
The Rivers government however stressed that working for or with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is not an option.
The meeting was subsequently adjourned to allow Atiku to go home to process the demands made by Wike before returning to the negotiation table.
According to the source, “The first thing Wike told Atiku is that he is lucky APC didn’t pick Osinbajo, otherwise he would have declared for Osinbajo and APC even if Osinbajo didn’t ask for it.
“He said he cannot join Asiwaju Bola Tinubu because of the Muslim,-Muslim ticket,” the source said.
The source also said that Wike accused Atiku of undermining him for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who was the one who convened a meeting of all Southern Governors (APC and PDP) right in Delta State, where they all agreed power must return to the South.
“It’s the same Okowa that Atiku picked as the running mate and he didn’t remember they all agreed power must return to South,” the source said.
Wike reportedly told Atiku he has some level of control over five PDP governors and that it would be the deciding factor for who will win 2023 between Tinubu and Atiku.
Wike told Atiku that he spent over 60 million Dollars on Atiku between 2018 and very recently and that he didn’t deserve the treatment Atiku meted out to him.
Wike said he would not have taken the VP slot, given his character and personality, but at least he should have been offered the position first.
Wike went on to hint at how prepared he is to attack and demolish the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC, adding that, he has official and classified documents indicting Kashim Shettima (APC Vice Presidential candidate) over #ChibokGirls and his involvement with the Boko Haram sect, adding that he was a Minister then and could account for what happened.
According to the source, the meeting was cordial which has now opened doors for further negotiation between the two leaders, as facilitated by Senator Bukola Saraki and others.
