2023: Source Speaks On Alleged Rift Between Wike And Ortom

The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party is getting worse on a regular with the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar finding it difficult to reconcile with the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

The issue got worse on Friday when Wike accused Atiku of lying in his recent interview on Arise TV and promising to reveal all the hidden secrets.

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom had been one of the PDP leaders calling for reconciliation in the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Ortom noted that several PDP members would be appealed if Atiku reaches out to Wike and reconciled with him.

The Benue State Governor, however, last week expressed his support for Atiku and charged him to reconcile with Wike to move the party forward.

A source that spoke with the Nation noted that there is no rift between Wike and Ortom because the Benue State Governor openly declared support for Atiku.

The source said, “It is not true that Governor Ortom is in disagreement with his friend and brother, Governor Wike. He has been very loud in his condemnation of the way Wike has been treated by Atiku and he is still insisting that the two must meet to discuss.

“If he is saying people should consider the interest of the party and make peace, that is not the same as fighting his brother governor. He is only urging a fast resolution of the issues.”

Another source who spoke on the reconciliation move in the PDP said, “Wike is not a small fry in PDP or politics. You cannot maltreat him and his supporters and expect him to just accept it like that. The utterances of Alhaji Atiku suggest that there are issues to tackle and it is in the interest of all that this is done before anything. Let all the cards be on the table for all to discuss.

“Why are they unwilling to meet Wike and hear him out peacefully? Why are we eager to merge people without asking them what they want? We all know that Wike and his people are crucial to the election if people desire victory.

“The party needs unity, yes, but the people also need justice and assurance that the government we intend to form will be a collective one and there will be no witch-hunt of any sort.”