Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and other top politicians, especially in the North, have started mending fences to help Atiku Abubakar’s campaign and the party’s chances in the February 2023 election.
Even though Governor Nyesom Wike, who came in second in Saturday’s presidential primary, said he would work with whoever won, the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, has taken steps to bring about reconciliation very quickly.
On Sunday, it was reported that the reconciliation efforts were starting to work, as Ayu’s team met with Wike, Atiku, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and other key stakeholders.
People are also trying to use the choice of vice-presidential candidate to make up for political wounds that were made before and during the primary election.
In the past, people have talked about the South East and the South-South when talking about who should be the running mate. But many people think that the choice of a vice-presidential candidate shouldn’t be based on things like loyalty to the presidential candidate in the past and present.
“What’s current and important about reconciliation right now is how we can use all factors, including the choice of a vice presidential candidate, to bring about political healing. In meetings before and after yesterday’s presidential primary election, it was suggested that the party and its leaders should be involved in choosing Atiku’s running mate. A member of the PDP NEC said, “We can’t let it look like only people in his political camp can talk about how to choose the vice-presidential candidate.”
In the meantime, new information has come out about the issues that led to the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, becoming the PDP presidential candidate on Saturday, after a very close race.
What happened on Saturday night has been linked to what key leaders in the North did to try to stop it. As the campaign heated up, it was said that the top two candidates from the North, Atiku Abubakar, and Aminu Tambuwal, were told to stop fighting right away so that one of them could win.
“They never asked anyone, in particular, to step down, but it was clear that Tambuwal, who was younger and had more political years ahead of him, would have to step down,” a source said.
Even though Tambuwal and Nyesom Wike, the governor of River State, had strong political ties in the past, the events that led to Atiku’s election as a presidential candidate made those ties too strong.
In 2019, Wike was the main person who helped Tambuwal bid for the presidency. But in the primary last Saturday, they were very far apart.
And in response to Atiku’s rise to power, Anyim Pius Anyim, who used to be President of the Senate, said he was shocked that voting was based on primitive feelings.
In a statement released on Sunday, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation said, “I am shocked that voting for the PDP presidential candidate was not based on burning national issues and how to solve them, but still on the old primal feelings.” It doesn’t look like our efforts to become a nation are going anywhere.
“I’m very grateful to everyone who supported me in this race, especially those who voted for me in the primary. I want to promise you all that we will keep standing tall until we see the Nigeria of our dreams come to life.
“I’d also like to congratulate His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on being chosen as the PDP presidential candidate for 2023. Long live Nigerians.”
As Atiku became the PDP’s presidential candidate on Saturday, a new political awareness, strategy, and realignment across political lines are also becoming clear.
- Tags: 2023 Elections, Atiku Abubakar, PDP
