December 13, (THEWILL) – Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, scaled the political wall between him and Nyesom Wike, as he prayed for the Rivers Governor, who turns 55 on Tuesday.
Atiku and Wike had been at loggerheads following the failure of Iyorchia Ayu, to relinquish his position as the party’s National Chairman.
The party’s dispute began after Atiku, a former Vice President, defeated Wike and other candidates in the PDP presidential primary.
Political pundits explained that Wike, who was upset about his loss in the primary, felt that the outcome of the contest was affected by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State’s last-minute withdrawal from the contest at the May 28, convention in Abuja.
The conflict was further exacerbated after he lost the position of vice presidential candidate to his counterpart in Delta, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Wike and four other PDP Governors, known as the G5 or the Integrity Group, have insisted that Benue-born Ayu must step down for a southerner as a precondition to support the 2023 ambition of Atiku.
Last month, Wike promised logistics support for the campaigns of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi; and his New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
While Wike and his allies have not been seen to campaign for Atiku, it is not clear whether they will support Obi, Kwankwaso, or APC’s Bola Tinubu.
However, against the continued disagreement, Atiku sent the Rivers State Governor a birthday wish in a tweet on Tuesday.
In his prayers, Atiku told God to ensure all lines fall in pleasant places for Wike.
“As you turn 55 today, I pray that all lines fall in pleasant places for you. Enjoy your special day”, Atiku’s said, in his tweet
The tweet might definitely put the PDP presidential candidate in a good light. The evidence of that could be seen in his comment section on social media.
“A good man. Politics without bitterness. Happy birthday, Governor Wike,” Theo Abu wrote on Atiku’s page.
Another commentator Forlan wrote: “Maturity at its very peak. An elder statesman to the bone.”
“Thank you for showing big maturity sir and happy birthday to Gov. Wike,” another commentator wrote.
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