Wike withdraws his threat to quit as south-south coordinator of Atiku campaign after Port Harcourt meeting

RIVERS State governor Nyesom Wike has withdrawn his threat to resign as the coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential campaign coordinator in the south-south over his marginalisation in the making of key decisions.

Earlier this mo nth, Governor Wike had indicated that he may quit his post as the south-south coordinator of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign over his disaffection at the way he is being sidelined in the making of key decisions. Regarded as the main financier of the PDP, Governor Wike backed his Sokoto State colleague Aminu Tambuwal for the party's presidential ticket but at the annual convention, they lost out to former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Now in the uncomfortable position of being an outsider, Governor Wike is not part of Alhaji Abubakar's inner circle despite being named as the PDP's south-south campaign coordinator. One source close to the governor said that he was not happy because the Atiku campaign committee was not carrying him along in its activities.

However, in a bid to soothe nerves, party leaders met with Governor Wike at Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday to resolve the matter. While other members of the presidential campaign council had been visible in PDP activities so far, Governor Wike had refused to take part but it appears he has now agreed to following yesterday's meeting.

One of the sources at the meeting said, “It was a tough but friendly meeting. The presidential candidate spoke like a father while Wike also listened and presented his areas of grievances.

“The governor threatened to abandon the campaign, but I think it was meant to get his attention and also register his displeasure over some of the actions he believed were taken without his knowledge.  At the end of the day, he agreed to lead the campaign and also play prominent roles in order to enable us sack the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the president in 2019."

Among those who attended the Port Harcourt meeting are Alhaji Abubakar, PDP national chairman Uche Secondus, Governor Tambuwal, former governor Attahiru Bafarawa and Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Also in attendance were Senator Bukola Saraki, Hon Yakubu Dogara, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State.