Stop Bragging, Lamido Tells Governor Wike, Supporters Over PDP Crisis

Lamido has told governor Wike, supporters to stop bragging over PDP crisis.

The Nation reports that the crisis that has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated yesterday as former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido accused Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike of fuelling the post-presidential primary crisis.

He also faulted the position of the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Walid Jibril, saying that it was wrong for him to kick against the leadership structure of the party.

Lamido cautioned Wike against bragging, pointing out that his influence will soon fade after leaving office next year.

He also said the Rivers governor, who is criticising the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for picking Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate, imposed a governorship candidate on the Rivers PDP, in spite of complaints by other aspirants.

Lamido said Wike was free to do whatever he likes, provided he is within the law, advising him to tread the path of caution.

He said Wike should remember that he will soon become a past governor and an ordinary citizen like himself.

The party has been going through a crisis since its presidential primary that threw up Atiku as its candidate.

The crisis became compounded following the choice of Okowa as Atiku’s running mate.

Wike and his team, who felt cheated, have been kicking over the leadership structure of the party.

He has demanded the resignation of the party chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, as one of the conditions for truce with Atiku’s camp.

In his reaction, Jibril had few days ago agreed that it was unfair for the leadership structure of the party and Atiku to come from the North.

Also, the crisis has degenerated into a personality clash between Lamido and Wike.

While Lamido has described Wike as the emperor of Rivers State, Wike has also described the former Jigawa governor as an attack dog.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television Programme, Lamido said it was wrong for Jibril to openly decry the leadership structure of the PDP.

Lamido’s reaction came at a time the PDP is believed to be making moves to resolve the imbroglio.

He said: “The BoT chairman’s statement was in his personal capacity. Maybe he forgot that in 2007 when we had the late Umaru Yar’Adu as our candidate, we had our chairman in the person of Ahmadu Alli from the same zone.

“What we did at that time was to wait till after the election. So, I don’t see why some are calling for the resignation of the chairman now.

“We are to face the general elections and we should rather be uniting than fanning the embers of division. In which way will the call for the chairman’s resignation now help us?

“It’s unfortunate that such a statement came from the BoT chairman.

“If there is a problem in the party, he should rather call the members of the party for a meeting than going on a national television to make such statement.”

The former Jigawa governor also faulted Wike for claiming to have the capacity to influence Rivers voters in 2023.

He said: “Though I would have loved we discuss issues and not a person.

“How can somebody, who will soon become an ex-governor like me, claim to be able to determine Rivers’ votes?

“The Rivers people have been there even before him. They were there in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011.

“So, it will not be correct for anybody to claim such influence on the voters.”