2023: Why It’s dangerous for PDP to ignore Wike – Former Sokoto governor, Bafarawa

Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has revealed why it’s dangerous for the Peoples Democracy Party, PDP, to ignore Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike ahead of the 2023 elections.

Bafarawa blamed the crisis which had engulfed the PDP after the presidential primaries on the party’s leadership.

He called on the PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to resign if he could not solve the crisis in the party.

Speaking with journalists, Bafarawa said the crisis would be resolved with the ongoing reconciliation as the 2023 presidency has gone beyond its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to the PDP.

He stated these while responding to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, who said that Atiku should have placated Wike after the primaries.

Bafarawa said, “This is a very serious issue which nobody can undermine but unfortunately the problem of this crisis is caused by the leadership of the party.

“What I am trying to say is that the candidate (Atiku) is no longer an aspirant. He is a candidate. He is supposed to be controlled by the party.

“So if there is anything and any technical problem arise, it is the duty of the leadership of the party to swing on and solve the problems.

“But in the situation where we are now in, it looks like the leadership is not helping matters to bring the situation down.

“It is the duty of the national chairman to lead even the presidential candidate to go and speak with Wike for whatever decision they have taken, let him be recognized, let them make him a human being.

“As far as I am concerned, to the best of my knowledge, nobody can undermine Wike in building PDP.

“He was an aspirant, he was number two and he has done everything to help the party to be what it is today. So it is very painful for anybody to abandon him and say to hell with him. Wike is a factor in PDP in Nigeria. Nobody can say to hell with him.

“So with what is happening now, I am not blaming anybody. I am blaming the leadership of the party because they are supposed to swing in and bring the matter down.

“As far as I am concerned, to the best of my knowledge, nobody can undermine Wike in building PDP.

“He was an aspirant, he was number two and he has done everything to help the party to be what it is today. So it is very painful for anybody to abandon him and say to hell with him. Wike is a factor in PDP in Nigeria. Nobody can say to hell with him.

“So with what is happening now, I am not blaming anybody. I am blaming the leadership of the party because they are supposed to swing in and bring the matter down.