By Alexandra Dominic-Chukwu
ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has made his stand known on the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar’s version of what happened is true, but not saying that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is lying on his own position.
Okowa however, said Governor Wike is his friend and that he is making an effort to reach out to him.
Governor Okowa, who is the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP spoke in an interview with BBC pidgin.
Speaking on the crisis in the PDP, he said, “We’ve been talking internally, everything is being settled. You know that when something happens and everybody can’t agree, it’s settled bit by bit. That is what we’re still working on from the inside. We are finding a way to talk I’ll say, he is my friend, I am his friend, and we will find a way to talk.
“Atiku has said his own version of what happened, and I am sure that version he said is the true position. I am also not saying that Wike is lying, but if someone carries their anger, it is important to air your views. For us in the party, it’s about how to bring everybody together, how all of us can work together. Wike is still a very important member of the party, he has worked so hard for the party as many of us have worked hard too so we pray that everything comes together and we talk. I’m sure very soon we’ll be sitting down.”
Recall that the decision of Atiku to name Okowa as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election caused division in the party.
Some party stakeholders, including Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, had expressed concerns over Atiku’s decision to ignore Wike, who was recommended for the position by the party’s national working committee (NWC).
But in a recent interview, Atiku said the panel did not choose Wike and that he did not pick Wike as his running mate because he wanted someone he could work with “amicably”.
Reacting to the claims made by Atiku in the interview, Wike accused him (Atiku), of lying, saying he would speak on the matter soon.