G5 declare total war against Atiku, mobilise other PDP chieftains against him
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Atiku Abubakar is up against heavier artillery fire from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) group of five (G5) Governors who resolved at a meeting in Makurdi at the weekend to escalate salvos shot at him for backing National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu.
“To hell with Atiku and any one supporting him,” Benue Governor Samuel Ortom thundered in his opening remarks at the cocktail he organised for his colleagues.
The four others in the G5 – Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) – were hosted by Ortom who plans to launch state governorship and legislative election campaigns today.
A source close to one of the Governors said they resolved to increase and sustain their agitation for the resignation of Ayu, who enjoys the support of Ayu, the presidential candidate.
The G5 also resolved to woo more aggrieved PDP members to their column from the six zones to give their onslaught a national outlook, and to mobilise to resist the “divide and rule tactics” employed by Atiku to destabilise their state structures.
According to the source, the G5 are under pressure to have a rethink and make concessions but are determined to fight on, following moves by Atiku to instigate some party chieftains against them in their states.
“G5 is also fighting to keep its camp intact and resisting moves by Atiku to polarise them. It may also be possible that the Governors are receiving motivation from outside forces,” the source told The Nation.
“Part of their strategies is to attend fully any activity organised by any of them, particularly during the campaigns.”
The source said the PDP has mismanaged the crisis by underrating Wike and his colleagues.
“The battle started long time ago. It started ahead of the convention for the election of the National Chairman. Although Wike and his group supported Ayu, little did they guess that he is a staunch supporter of Atiku.
“But the challenge now is that if Ayu steps down, the five Governors may invent another reason not to support Akitu.”
_____________________________________________________________
Related articles:
Ortom berates Ayu again, says he lacks power to stop his senatorial bid
Wike cancels land certificate he personally signed for Atiku campaign Chairman
Makinde joins Wike. Where’s Atiku gonna get votes?
__________________________________________________________________
‘If you don’t honour agreement, you create problems’
Ortom said “to hell with Atiku and any one supporting him” asked Ayu to honour his promise to step down for a Southerner to become National Chairman to balance the power structure in the PDP.
“If you don’t honour agreement, you create problems. That’s why there are problems in the party today,” he insisted, per reporting by The Nation.
“Some people are blackmailing me for calling on Ayu to resign. Yes, because I can’t betray Governor Nyesom Wike. He was the one who supported Ayu to emerge as the National Chairman.
“So, it would amount to betrayal if Ayu reneges on his promise and expect sme to support him because he is a Benue man like me.”
Ortom stressed Wike has no problem with Benue people and is only fighting for equity and justice.
He said 18 people were killed in Guma Council last week by herdsmen trying to take over Benue land, yet some people want him to keep quiet.
“At 62, I am ready to die. I have written my will. God has been good. My age mates are long dead. So, nobody should blackmail me with [my] Senate [run]. Senate or no Senate, to hell with Atiku.”
