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Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, says Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, will not leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His statement comes amid speculations that Wike, who is a member of the PDP, may defect from the party after losing the presidential and vice-presidential tickets.
Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Monday, the former presidential hopeful said Wike is a principled politician.
He said the development in the party following the outcome of the presidential primaries has made the governor of Rivers a force to be reckoned with.
“For me, governor Wike is a very principled man; if there’s one thing he has been consistent about, it is his love for PDP; I believe he will not leave PDP. He is playing a mind game and he’s good at it. What shall he profit him if he joins APC?” he said.
“The situation in PDP shows what Wike is in the equation of things in Nigeria. If you have a man who is your best governor across the board, across party lines, Wike stands out as a fantastic performer.
“Today, the fear of Wike is the beginning of wisdom in PDP, there is no question about that. Wike is smart, he knows the game he’s playing, and what he wants to do is to force a deal with the party. That’s my own reading of the situation.
“He is a very smart politician. I’m sure eventually the party will reach an agreement with him.
Momodu said Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP, should have a one-on-one meeting with Wike to resolve the crisis rocking the party.
“What I would advise Atiku Abubakar to do today is to sit down one-on-one without no other person present with governor Wike and agree on deliverables, If possible, sign an agreement,” he said.
“Governor Wike believes that the party should have respected the zoning principle, number two, he believes that zoning would have favoured a southern candidate. Three, he believed that of all the southern aspirants, he is the one that has the capacity to deliver victory to the party.
“Then number four, I believe he thinks he should have been to one to make that presidential candidate.”
