THE aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are not keen on truce with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, The Nation learnt yesterday.
Atiku, who last Thursday expressed optimism of reconciliation with the Group of Five (G5) governors, was yet to open fresh talks with the aggrieved state executives, who met in Enugu on Friday.
The governors are: Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu. They are demanding the exit of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s National Chairman as condition to join the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
It was also learnt that the Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed, who had expressed his re-election fear, is in a dilemma on whether or not to team up with the G5.
Mohammed, who hosted the G5 governors last week, is said to be non-committal on where he is headed.
It was learnt that the Bauchi helmsman was uncomfortable with the sentiments expressed by one or two members of the G5 on the Fulani.
There were fears that with the internal wrangling in local chapter of the PDP in Bauchi State, it will be tough for Mohammed to take a definite position on G5 option.
A source, who spoke in confidence, gave insights into why the five aggrieved governors have not been keen on reconciliation with Atiku.
The source said: “The G-5 governors are not keen or excited to reconcile with Atiku because there are no new terms from the PDP candidate. The only offer is that the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu will sign an undertaking to resign after the 2023 poll. They felt it was not substantial.
“It means that there is nothing new other than the propaganda of Atiku’s camp that there will soon be reconciliation.
“Atiku’s shuttle to former President Ibrahim Babangida for intervention may not achieve much because some of the governors are not comfortable with a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, who was the facilitator of the visit to Minna. They know him as “incurably” loyal to Atiku rather than being a peacemaker.
“The crisis is deep-seated and it has festered beyond what anybody or group can resolve. It is most likely that the two sides will meet in the battlefield.
“Some of the G5 governors don’t want to have discussions with some members of the Board of Trustees (BoT). They also don’t trust a few members of the BoT. This was why Wike wanted live transmission of the visit of the BoT delegation to Port Harcourt.
“Though the BoT chairman, ex-Senate President Adolphus Wabara managed to prevail on Governor Nyesom Wike to stop the live coverage by TV stations, the governor did not spare a former leader of PDP in the team, he tongue-lashed the leader in a despicable manner.”
As at yesterday, one of the strategists of the G5 said: “The former VP is yet to open fresh talks with Wike and others. These governors are just reading the story of reconciliation in the media without concrete action.”
The Bauchi governor may not team up with the G5 because of the delicate politics of the state.”
A former minister said: “Mohammed was non-committal to Wike and four others. He left the invitation by the G5 hanging and the governors decided to be watching.
“It was predictable because Governor Bala cannot join a group which will be abusing Fulani. He made his feelings known on anti-Fulani comments. No wonder, Governor Samuel Ortom seized the opportunity of Bauchi visit to say that he was misquoted.
“If Mohammed joins the G5, his second term aspiration will be in a precarious state. He is battling for survival. Despite his good performance, some forces are against him in the state, including some strategic PDP leaders like Adamu Muazu (a former PDP National chairman of PDP) and ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara. With internal wrangling in Bauchi chapter of PDP, he decided to bid time to weigh options.
“But the G5 governors told Mohammed that they have left their doors open. They said he can come to the camp anytime.”
