'I’ve no problems with Atiku, Secondus' - Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday said the resolution of the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party had allayed his initial fear of possible implosion in the party.

He noted that the convivial manner in which PDP governors and the party’s Board of Trustees members resolved the crisis had given Nigerians hope that the party was prepared to take over power from the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2023.

Wike made these known while speaking as a guest on the Africa Independent Television’s programme, Focus Nigeria, in Port Harcourt on Friday.

The governor’s Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, relayed this in a statement titled, ‘Governors, BOT saved PDP from implosion – Wike.’

The governor was quoted to have explained that it was not uncommon for a political party to experience internal squabble in view of the forthcoming poll and varying interests.

He commended PDP governors for coming together to speak with one voice to end the differences.

“I use to be afraid of the possibility of an implosion and that could have been the end of the party. But what I saw on Monday gave me a lot of confidence for the first time.

“I have never seen that happen, the way the governors came together and spoke in a convivial manner with no dissenting view. I was impressed,” he was quoted to have said.

While dismissing insinuation that he had a personal disagreement with the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Wike said his primary concern had been to salvage the PDP from an impending doom occasioned by an inert leadership.

Secondus blames APC for Nigerians’ humiliation abroadPDP leaders save Secondus, raise zoning panel, convention holds Oct

“Everybody believed that whatever the national chairman was doing was dictated by Wike and must have the backing of Wike. I believe when you support somebody, support him to succeed.

“But when things are also going wrong, if you don’t speak out, people will believe you are part of it. Therefore, I owe it as a duty to say things are not going right,” he said.

The governor accused some members of the National Working Committee, particularly, the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu, of stirring crisis in the party because of his governorship ambition.

He warned that the PDP should be wary of agents of the APC, which he alleged was hell-bent on causing division in the PDP to destabilise the opposition party.

Wike also said he had no problems with the former Vice-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar, and was not aware of Atiku’s plan contesting the presidency in 2023 because PDP had not yet zoned the Presidency.

Commenting on the recent court judgment, he said it was Rivers State Government and not the Federal Inland Revenue that should collect Value Added Tax and other related taxes in the state. Wike said it brought to an end the perceived infraction on the state’s rights and powers.