Southeast governors objected to choice of Obi to get back at Wike who promised to deal with them after PDP convention

GOVERNORS from across the southeast geo-political zone are apparently unhappy with the emergence of Peter Obi as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate because of the apparent contempt shown to them by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

On Friday, former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the PDP's presidential candidate, announced that he had picked ex-Anambra State governor Obi as his running mate. Yesterday, however, governors from across the southeast lashed out at the way the decision was made, saying that they were not consulted by either Alhaji Abubakar or the PDP hierarchy.

Governor David Umahi, the chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, said that they would consequently not be endorsing the candidacy of Governor Obi. After a meeting of the governors in Enugu, he said that neither they nor other Igbos elders were told about the decision despite an earlier agreement that they would be consulted and asked to produce a candidate if the position was zoned to the southeast.

Over the rest of the week, the governors plan to hold meetings with Alhaji Abubakar and the PDP leaders to resolve the matter. It has now emerged that they are actually unhappy with the move because Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike insulted them during the recent PDP convention in Port Harcourt where Alhaji Abubakar emerged as the party's flagbearer.

It is alleged that Governor Wike insulted the southeast leaders and threatened to deal with them for betraying an understanding that they would vote for Governor Aminu Tambuwal as the PDP presidential candidate. At the convention, the southeast governors voted en block for Alhaji Abubakar, which enraged Governor Wike.

One source said: “Wike was virtually dragged by Senator Dino Melaye to where Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was seated at the stadium to congratulate him after he was announced the winner of the PDP presidential primary in Port Harcourt. Then later in the evening, when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar departed after paying a thank you visit to Wike at the Government House, the Rivers governor was left with some PDP leaders, including national chairman Prince Uche Secondus and some serving senators such as Obinna Ogba and Samuel Anyanwu.

“Wike, who was still fuming over the outcome of the convention, said he was disappointed with the deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and would make sure he sponsored his impeachment. One of the senators, however, countered him, saying that it was not possible but Wike told him to wait and see.

“He also spoke angrily about the governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi for allegedly betraying him, saying he regretted giving him some financial support in the past and also flying him in Rivers State jet on several occasions. Unfortunately, neither Atiku nor the others had the slightest idea that Governor Wike was on a vengeance mission to not only ensure that the party leaders in the southeast did not have a say in the emergence of the vice presidential candidate from their region but also that Senator Ekweremadu did not get a look-in either because he did not honour an understanding he felt he had with him on Tambuwal."

He added that Governor Wike was vehemently against Senator Ekweremadu’s candidature, insisting that it must be Governor Obi. Apparently, Governor Wike also kept reminding the PDP leaders that former president Olusegun Obasanjo preferred a technocrat or somebody who understood the economy.

“So, the implication of what has happened is that Wike has succeeded in making good his threat by indirectly filling the southeast slot for the vice presidential ticket to get back at those he felt did not support Tambuwal’s ticket. The southeast leaders were disregarded in making that choice as a way of paying for what Wike consider their sin.

“So, nobody has anything against Peter Obi. In fact, we are most grateful to Atiku for considering our own, as it could have gone elsewhere,” the source added.