- Absence of southeast governors at Atiku Abubakar's installation as Waziri Adamawa, has created fears within the party
- Atiku had chosen former governor of Anambra, Peter Obi, as his running mate for 2019 presidential election
- But the southeast governors frowned at the choice of Obi, claiming that they were not informed before the former governor was chosen
There are indications that palpable tension is brewing within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of 2019 presidential election as southeast governors and other major political office-holders on Sunday, November 25, stayed away from the installation of former vice president and PDP's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as Waziri Adamawa in Yola, Adamawa state.
Vanguard reports that there had been mutterings over the approach of Abubakar to southeast political office holders in the choice of his running mate, Peter Obi.
Legit.ng gathered that the ceremony was graced by President Muhammadu Buhari by proxy; former president Olusegun Obasanjo, former president Goodluck Jonathan, five PDP governors, among others.
The former president Obasanjo, at the ceremony nevertheless, projected Atiku’s capacity to lead, saying he would not disappoint Nigerians.
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Deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu; all three PDP governors and other prominent political leaders from the southeast were absent at the ceremony.
It was gathered that the only notable southeast leader was the one-time Atiku aide, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who served as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives after a stint as an aide to Atiku as vice president.
The Wazirin Adamawa is the prime traditional office only next to the Lamido, who as the traditional ruler of the Yola emirate, is one of the paramount traditional rulers in northern Nigeria.
Among other dignitaries present at the installation of Atiku as Waziri Adamawa were former vice president Namadi Sambo, Senate president Bukola Saraki, speaker Yakubu Dogara, Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo, Seriake Dickson, Darius Ishaku, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Udom Emmanuel of Gombe, Bayelsa, Taraba, Kwara, and Akwa Ibom states respectively.
Also present were PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; PDP Board of Trustees chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin; two-time governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; former chief of army staff, General Kenneth Minimah (retd); ex-minister of foreign affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi; the lawmaker representing Bayelsa east, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce; immediate past governor of Niger state, Babangida Aliyu and erstwhile governor of Adamawa state, Boni Haruna among others.
The absence of the southeast governors came in the wake of concerns by senior officials of the party over the perceived disrespect Atiku had allegedly shown to the region’s political class since his emergence as the presidential candidate of the party.
Neither Ekweremadu nor any of the PDP governors attended the meeting that was mostly graced by leaders of thought, but who the politicians allege cannot deliver the votes.
Some of the governors pegged their absence on previous commitments. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state said his absence was due to previous scheduled appointments.
“Far, far from it, we are working with him. Our governor was at his event last week. He could not come for this one because he has two engagements today, and in fact, I am talking to you from a ceremony,” Enyinnaya Apollos, chief press secretary to Governor Ikpeazu told Vanguard, yesterday.
Southeast political leaders had been peeved that Atiku sat with political leaders from other geopolitical zones to decide on the choice of Obi and that they heard of the pick just as every other person.
Remarkably, a number of the political leaders expressing the opinion are those who had associated with the former vice-president.
“I am shocked that Atiku has not changed. His sense of entitlement can rob the PDP of this victory that everyone is expecting. The idea that he would go out to consult and relate with the feelings of people is not there,” a long time associate of the former vice-president told Vanguard.
Vanguard learned that some interested political associates have commenced moves to reconcile Atiku with the southeast political leaders. A meeting to that effect is being planned between him and the political class in the coming week.
Meanwhile, governors of the southeast said they did not attend Atiku’s turbaning for different reasons that were neither coordinated nor on purpose.
Responding to the allegation that the southeast governors intentionally boycotted the function, chairman of southeast governors forum, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, denied that it was a boycott.
Reacting to the development, last night, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, urged the southeast governors to gauge the mood of their people before embarking on the game.
The national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin said: “When the candidate of their party went to Enugu state, they were not there. A week after they went to the Villa to ask the president to do for them in three months what he could not do for them in three and half years. Now, they have an event in Yola and they were not all there.
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"The advice to those governors is for them to gauge the mood of their people because there are some of them seeking re-election for a second term. Before they start this game, they should try and gauge the mood of their people properly.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi, revealed that the meeting of his colleagues and leaders of the southeast with President Muhammau Buhari was not an attempt to campaign for his re-election bid.
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Source: Legit.ng
