2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: ATIKU VS GOV. WIKE’S CONFLICT DIVIDES RIVERS STATE PDP

There are cracks inside the once tranquil Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Rivers state chapter with Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike leading the governing party. But with his failure in capturing the coveted Presidential Ticket for his party and the existing acrimony between the winner Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the first runner up being incumbent Governor of Rivers state Wike, he had insisted negotiating his way inside Atiku Abubakar’s political game plan since he as schemed out from Vice Presidential ticket too a situation he sees as a humiliation after all that he had done for PDP in the past. His expectation of reward mechanism which eluded him and coming from the Presidential Flagbearer surprised him.

In the heat of this controversy, some stake holders of Rivers state PDP have opted out from the inner Kitchen cabals’ structure which Governor Wike set out early in his 7 years and 8-months of his administration. First is the fact that former deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives Sir, Austin Opara and former Governor Celestine Omehia who usurped 2007 Governorship mandate of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for 5-months were invited for a meeting with the PDP Presidential Standard bearer Atiku Abubakar. Quickly as the information got to Rivers state Governor Wike he rushed and organized a state-wide broadcast in which he threw up a new security information about politicians who are planning to recruit hoodlums to disrupt the incoming 2023 General election in the state.

Vexed with the nocturnal political meetings and behind his back political support for Atiku Abubakar Governor Wike in his state-wide broadcast on Sunday 7th of august, 2022 said that the state will demolish any entertainment outfit or hotel that makes its facility available to be used by political thugs and hoodlums as Rivers state cannot be used for such meetings as he remains in charge of the state.

But information coming from those who participated in the Atiku Abubakar’s political meetings with former Governors, former Speakers and Austin Opara being a former Deputy Speaker number 6th in Government’s hierarchy while Atiku Abubakar was Vice President and heading the Economic Council. Senator Lee Meabe joined those who shifted their loyalty to Atiku Abubakar as Wike quickly dissolved the Governing Council of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic where senator Lee Meaba was Chairman of the Governing Board. The Polytechnic despite its upgrade in nomenclature never received statutory subvention to develop infrastructure and physical plants that can aid learning at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnics where senator Lee Meaba was Governing Board Chairman as the essence was to stifle it of funds and deprive the Board chairman of funds to be used by him to contest Governorship election since he supported alhaji Atiku Abubakar in 2019 as he formed Friends of Atiku Abubakar Organization then.

Touched by the existing acrimony existing between Atiku Abubakar and Wike the Federal House of representatives Member Dr. Farah Dagogo who was nursing Governorship ambition but was truncated by Governor Wike who charged him to Court while he went for screening as Governorship aspirant at PDP state Secretariat along Aba Road. Today Dr. Farah Dagogo is charged with possession. Today, PDP has led by Dr. Farah Dagogo a supporter of Atiku Abubakar has opened a new party office at former All Progressives Congress APC Rivers state chapter Office close to Garrison area of Aba Road Port Harcourt. Here the Rivers state supporters of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who have challenged Nyesom Wike for his audacity is saying that they must get permission from him.

Again, Governor Wike has to change his political leaders at various Local Government Area of the state where at Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Chief Austin Opara has been replaced with Member Federal House of Representatives Barrister Ken Chikere from Ogbu-Nu-Abali community where Governor Wike while Commissioning dualized 2.1kilometer of road made a donation of N2Billion to the community and N1Billion to Women in the community for empowerment. He lifted Youth Organization activities in Ogbu-Nu-Abali community. At Ikwerre Local government area where former Commissioner for Information and Communications Barrister Emma Okah was holding sway, he replaced him with the incumbent Local Government Chairman Engr. Samuel Nwanosike PhD as Leader of PDP.

Celestine Omehia too has been said to have lost his position as one of his supporters from Ikwerre Local Government Area as it is alleged that his honorarium and pension as former Governor of Rivers state may be threatened.   

The aftermath of this conflict among Rivers state PDP stakeholders is that the Governorship candidate Siminialaye Fubara who was singlehandedly picked by Wike may not get the support of these elders who have shifted their party allegiance to Atiku Abubakar. Senator Lee Maeba said that on Thursday 4th of August 2022 when Wike summoned elders from his Ikwerre ethnic nationality where he berated Chief Austin Opara and celestine Omehia for honouring Atiku Abubakar invitation for a meeting. Senator Meaba said “The governor Summoned Austin Opara and Omehia and told them they have no right to have gone to see Atiku for a meeting of that nature without clearing with him. That they should be ready, that he will kill himself and kill them. He gave that threat and that if they don’t have guns, they should go and buy guns.”

Continuing Lee Maeba said that “He clearly told them ‘Let me see how you can campaign for Atiku in this state. You, cannot campaign for Atiku without my permission. No one in this state can work for Atiku.’” Subsequently on Friday 5th of august, 2022 he summoned Ogoni elders and chiefs where he said that he’s waiting for when Senator Lee Meaba will campaign for Atiku in Rivers state.

For Senator Lee Maeba Wike challenged him for having campaigned for Atiku Abubakar in 2019 against his choice Aminu Tambuwal without his permission as he told him” because of that it was over and that he could not hand over the state to Senator Maeba.