Wike rules out any further talks with Atiku saying G5 group has crossed the Rubicon

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has ruled out any chance of him and his political allies negotiating with the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar ahead of this month's general elections.

In late June last year, the PDP elected  former vice president Alhaji Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election at its Abuja convention. Governor Wike was a candidate in that election but he was beaten into second place and to make matters worse for him, he was not then picked as the party's running mate.

With Alhaji Abubakar opting to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, Governor Wike and his supporters, made up primarily of four other governors, have  been on the war path. Governors Wike, Seyi Makinde  (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) now make up what is now known as the G5 Group of Governors and have boycotted all of Atiku's campaigns so far.

One of the key demands of the G5 has been that PDP chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu stands down, as he, like Alhaji Abubakar is from northern Nigeria and for the sake of unity, it was argued that a southerner should replace him. Despite several meetings between the Atiku and Wike camps to resolve the impasse, the matter has not been sorted out and Senator Ayu remains in office.

Speaking ion Port Harcourt yesterday, Governor Wike said that the timeframe for resolving the grievance of the G5 is over and he is not ready to sit down with anybody again. He added that the G-5 governors have crossed the Rubicon, saying they were no longer disposed to broker any peace with the national leadership of the party.

Governor Wike said: "We have said it and there is nothing anybody can do about it now. They believe they can win the election. I am not ready to sit down with anybody again.”

He explained that contrary to insinuations that the G-5 governors were working at cross-purposes, the group has remained intact and their impact will be felt in the aftermath of the February 25 presidential election. According to Governor Wike, no G5 governor has so far attended the PDP presidential campaign in their respective states.

Governor Wike said: “Even before Enugu governor received Atiku in Government House, we knew about it. Forget about what people are saying, the 25th is here and everybody will see it. We can’t do that again."

He added that he has no apology for hosting the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Port Harcourt yesterday. However, Governor Wike declined to mention his preferred presidential candidate, saying PDP leaders in Rivers State have already taken a position on who to vote for and that decision had been communicated to party stalwarts and supporters ahead of next week’s election.