AUTHOR: Malik Abdulganiy


Efforts by Atiku Abubakar, the presidential flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to enlist the support of former President Goodluck Jonathan in resolving the party’s crisis have hit a brick wall, TheCable understands.

Atiku, in company with Ifeanyi Okowa, his running mate, had visited Jonathan at his Abuja home on the night of November 17 on a “peace mission” following his lukewarm attitude to the PDP crisis and the presidential campaign in general.

Jonathan, who was elected vice-president in 2007 and president in 2011 on the PDP platform, had been a backbencher in the party since losing his re-election bid in 2015.

Sources familiar with the Thursday night meeting informed TheCable that Atiku told Jonathan he was worried the former president had not been participating in the affairs of the PDP as the presidential election draws near.

He implored Jonathan to intervene in the face-off with PDP governors who are sympathetic to Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers state, sources said.

Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Uguwanyi (Enugu) are all openly with Wike.

Wike has refused to back Atiku’s presidential bid, with his camp insisting that Iyorchia Ayu should resign as national chairman in accordance with the promise made my Atiku himself.

Atiku and Ayu are from the northern part of the country and the understanding is that the president and the national chairman of the party should not come from the same region.

However, the Atiku camp is arguing that until a president is elected, the current arrangement should stand.


‘NO RESPECT’

Sources told TheCable that Jonathan believes the party, particularly Atiku, has not shown him any respect.

“Dr Jonathan has never been invited to the meeting of the Board of Trustees,” one of the sources said.

“The party has never accorded him the respect of involving him in its activities. Now that presidential election is close by, Dr Jonathan has suddenly become important.”

Jonathan reportedly reminded Atiku that he supported him fully in his presidential bid in 2019 but the candidate stopped picking his calls after getting the ticket.

“More so, those nominated by Dr Jonathan into the 2019 presidential campaign council were not appointed. Not a single nominee of his was picked,” the source added.

Atiku reportedly said he was not aware of Jonathan’s complaints and that he would raise them with the party leadership.


ATIKU’S ROLE IN JONATHAN’S OUSTER

The presidential candidate was also reminded of the role he played in getting the PDP ousted from power by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

Atiku had teamed up with five PDP governors to storm out of the PDP national convention in November 2013.

They later joined three opposition parties to found APC.

The governors were Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

“Atiku is facing a similar rebellion now and he now wants the same Dr Jonathan who was a victim of his own machination to help him resolve the crisis,” the source.

Jonathan had met with Atiku at the Dorchester Hotel, London, in 2014 to solicit his help in ending the PDP crisis but, ironically, Atiku reportedly said the only condition for peace was for Jonathan to withdraw from the presidential race.

“The opinion of Dr Jonathan’s associates is that he should rather support Obi, who has always treated him with respect, than Atiku. President Muhammadu Buhari has treated Dr Jonathan with more respect than Atiku, despite going after his wife and his former ministers,” the source said.

Corrinthians:
Otilo!!

It is becoming to appear like the last nail on Atiku's fate has already been driven into his coffin. A this point, only interment is left to be done.

With every move they make at success, Jagaban inches ever closer to Aso Rock. His conquest come February will be so emphatic even those who vilify him the most will acknowledge his deserved triumph.

God bless Tinubu, the incoming President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

PrinceOfLagos:
Dr Goodluck Jonathan is fully Obidient so Atiku and Tinubu should stop this shameful habit of forcing people to endorse them

Nigerians are more than willing to kick out APC and there corrupt way of doing things in 2023

I want APC Out

descarado:
Atiku is so arrogant.
I'm happy with the outcome.

I remembered tinubu visited Jonathan too.
Tinubu boys have stopped calling him Jonathan. History is a reminder.

Obi, despite being in opposition while in office, after he left office, as vp candidate of pdp till now has respected that man. Obi is a very humble man. Truth is that non of us here can be as humble as he is with his achievements. His standard is too high. His mindset need to be studied. Our biggest problem is materialism, show off. It's psychological. A man is a man only if he has fat pocket. So myopic

Asgard73:
Apc mumurity and their stupid Yoruba control media

Repeating one jargons .. hoping it’s truth

Fallacy

Tinubu can never ever ever sleep at the villa as a President

God forbids him


Power to the people
PDP

NaijaMutant:


Neither will a serial betrayal like Atiku