Nigeria’s former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate in the last general elections, Atiku Abubakar and the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike, appear to be on a clear collision course again after it emerged that Wike and his famed G-5 group are rooting for popular Cross River State senator, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, as their choice for the Minority Leader position in Nigeria’s Senate, sources inside the PDP, have informed www.calitown.com.
While Aminu Tambuwal is believed to be Atiku and the PDP’s choice for the position of Minority Leader, the G-5 group comprising Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, former governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers); ex-Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue; his colleague in Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)) hold a strong contrary view.
It is believed that Wike’s marathon meeting with Akpabio till 6:30 pm last Thursday, triggered and heightened tension within the PDP, knowing his capacity to act as spoiler to Atiku’s political interests. Sources inside the National Assembly, confided in www.calitown.com that what was discussed at that meeting has continued to keep tongues wagging and hearts guessing as neither Akpabio nor Wike have, even in passing, said a word about their meeting.
Political permutations appear to tilt towards the argument that the G-5’s undoing of Atiku in large parts of Nigeria’s South, during the last general elections, may be taken to the political centre stage with the group not throwing support behind Aminu Tambuwal, a former Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives. Tambuwal is believed to be unliked by the G-5 after he surprisingly pulled out of the presidential race in the last general elections, cutting a deal and supporting Atiku, who went on to lose the election.
But Media Adviser to Atiku, Paul Ibe, has largely been quoted in national dailies explaining that: “If the party (PDP) is backing Tambuwal and Atiku Abubakar happens to support this, there is nothing wrong with that. It is the prerogative of the party to decide who they think can champion the interest of the party in the hallowed chamber. Normally, they will support someone whose competence they can vouch for.”
Jarigbe on his part, is reported to have come out clear to say that: “Such news is rumours and unfounded. Nothing like that happened. Even if there was such a thing, I am not aware because as we speak he (Wike) and I have not had such a conversation.”
But a competent National Assembly source pointed us to the fact that, “…you don’t expect them to tell you the content of the soup they are cooking. My brother, this is politics and until the Pandora’s box is opened, no one will lay bare his plans before a questioning journalist. But be rest assured that between now and July 4, 2023, what we will finally see maybe what we only imagined. Wike helped the APC and Tinubu coast to victory in the presidential election in Rivers State. You can’t see that he supported the aspirations of four National Assembly members who have all been elected to four presiding offices in the National Assembly? Isn’t that enough handwriting on the wall?”
When the Senate resumes for plenary on July 4, 2023, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, will read the letter from opposition parties in the Senate, announcing their nominations for the minority leadership positions, as provided for by the relevant laws and rules of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Eight principal positions, apart from the two presiding positions, are to be occupied by elected lawmakers from the ruling and minority political parties.
