***As G5 PDP Govs Make Fresh Moves Against Atiku
*** Tinubu’s Absence/APC Campaign Council Composition Cause Ripples
By: Politics Editor
The five agrieved Governor’s of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have been meeting periodically to review their positions in the ongoing imbroglio that has engulfed the party.
At the end of each meeting, which they have been rotating amongst themselves, they tell the press their decisions and likely moves ahead. But at the end of such meetings in Enugu on Sunday, all the five Governor’s maintained sealed lips, forcing the press to guess what may have transpired.
The Governor’s who include Samuel Orton of Benue State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Efeanyi Oguwanyi of Enugu state, Nyeson Wike of Rivers State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, were in Enugu state in furtherance of their fight against their party.
National TRAIL correspondent has been on the trails of some participants at the meeting and reports that, in what looks like last ditch efforts in having their ways or rock the boat, the five agrieved Governor’s have come up with new strategies during the Enugu meet.
Although they declined talking to the Press at the end of their closed door meeting, a member of the group gave insight into the new strategies to national TRAIL.
The member who is privy to the discussions in Enugu told our correspondent that, the Governor’s reviewed the seeming non committal stance of the PDP standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar in his separate meetings with some of them in the last two weeks;including Nyeson Wike of Rivers State and Efeanyi Oguwanyi of Enugu state.
In each of the meetings the Governor’s felt their views were misrepresented in the media, hence they agreed to avoid making unnecessary comments in the media on the subject matter, to avoid being misrepresented.
This according to him informed the sealed lips maintained by the Governor’s after their meeting in Enugu.
According to the source, the five Governor’s also agreed to use all available means to Compel the convening of another National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting at which the vote of confidence reportedly passed on Iyorchia Ayu will be rescinded if he fails to quit.
The Governor’s also agreed to cease further talks with the party’s standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar unless the National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu agrees to step down, or Atiku publicly disowns the Chairman.
And in the event that the party calls their bluff, the five powerful Governor’s also agreed to identify a suitable candidate with whom they will work against the next election.
National TRAIL had earlier reported of possible alliance with Peter Obi, Presidential Standard bearer of the Labour Party, LP, in which they will support Obi during the Presidential elections, but will fall back to their party, the PDP for subsequent elections where some of them are already candidates.
But a former auditor of the party, Francis Nnaji described the five Governor’s meeting as a dangerous ploy that could leave everyone of them in the lurch.
According to him, it is a suicidal move that may consume the political carriers of the actors themselves, as working against Atiku could amount to working against themselves and their other candidates in various races for positions.
Nnaji was quoted as cautioning the five Governor’s against rocking the PDP boat, so as to avoid running foul of their own machinations.
While pundits predict that the ruling APC will benefit from the internal crisis in the rival PDP, by poaching from its ranks, the APC itself seem to be fighting to remain afloat.
The controversy surrounding the composition of it’s campaign council, coupled with the absence of the APC standard bearer Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the country and his continued shunning of strategic events have been sending the wrong signals, with the attendant risk of strengthening the narrative about his state of health.
Media reports in the last one week indicate that the crisis of confidence trailing the campaign council is deepening and some key stakeholders have threatened to remain passive and uncooperative.
National TRAIL investigations reveal that, while Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shettima has been consulting and trying to rebuild confidence, the absence of Bola Tinubu has further deepened fears about his commitment to the reconcilation drive he professed in his acceptance speech after the primary election.
While some people think his absence at this very critical juncture when the campaigns are starting is a deliberate snub, others tend to believe that he is not physically strong enough to face the assignment ahead.
Spokespersons of the Presidential campaign council only made feable explanations about the reasons for Bola Tinubu’s absence yet no reasons have been given on why the inauguration of the campaign council is still on hold.
Periodic flashes of Bola Ahmed Tinubu claiming to be healthy but resting in London do not seem to impress many Nigerians, who feel that his physical presence could make the difference and could put to rest insinuations about his illhealth.
At a time other candidates are busy making inroads into areas hitherto controlled by the APC and members are defecting massively into other less fancied camps, the APC standard bearer has not made any efforts arresting the tide, save for the moves initiated by the running mate, Kashim Shettima, who has been consulting widely.
Feelers indicate that hitherto very strong supporters of the APC are having a second thought about remaining members.
Against reports that some key stakeholders who felt agrieved with the outcome of the primary election and the composition of the campaign council might be working against the party, there are strong indications that the APC may be sinking deeper.
Our correspondent reports that, while the controversy surrounding the Muslim/Muslim ticket for the Residential race lingers, the likes of Ahmed Lawan, Rotimi Amaechi, Yemi Osinbajo and Dave Umahi, who lost the primary elections to Tinubu may still have an axe to grind with the party.
While some were alleged to have been publicly snubbed by the candidate, others are losing out to their arch rivals who are being Patronized by the party at their expenses.
Most party faithfuls are of the view that, the APC needs to return to the drawing board, if they hope to go into the elections as one big family.
Recent events have seen to the embattled standard bearer of the PDP, Atiku Abubaka showing good outings and holding reconcilatory meetings with agrieved members of his party, while that if the APC is nowhere to be found.
Reports across the country also indicate that, other candidates, including those of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Action Alliance, AA,Hamza Al-Mustapha and the rest, are busy crisscrossing the country and recruiting followers.
Following the formal start of campaigns, rallies are holding, with solidarity marches and town hall meetings being convened to woo Nigerians by these other candidates.
Analyst believe that the crisis rocking both the APC and the PDP could pave way for the third force, epitomized in the Labour Party, to take the shine of them.
Already, opinion polls have twice given the possibility of winning to Peter Obi, who seem to be basking in the euphoria of his latest ranking.
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