A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bode George has lamented the internal crisis in the party, saying it looks like “some kind of devil has entered into the midst of our party.”
There has been an internal crisis in the PDP since its presidential primary. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the poll, claims he was cheated in the election. Atiku’s selection of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate further widened the cracks within the party. Atiku had explained the rationale behind the move but Wike accused him of “telling many lies”.
Attempts to reconcile the duo have, however, not yielded the needed result but Bode George has told them to sheathe their swords, saying the rift is a source of concern ahead of the 2023 elections.
“It is a major bother not only for me but to a lot of the committed elders and members of the upper chamber of the party. It looks like some kind of devil has entered into the midst of our party,” he said during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.
“We have the capacity to resolve our crisis; we have enough experienced leaders, committed followers, who will sit and be able to resolve this crisis once and for all.
“Unfortunately, we have a month and a week before we commence the campaign. My appeal now is that Governor Wike should cool down, the presidential candidate Atiku should also cool down because none of their ambition should be bigger and higher than the ambition of our party. We are appealing to both of them.”
While admitting that conflicts are inevitable, the PDP chieftain noted that “the capacity and the ability to handle the resolution of such crisis would be a measure of how developed, reliable or respectable that organisation is.”
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‘Our Party Is Sacrosanct’
His comments came amid calls for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu since he is from the same region as Atiku.
Speaking on the matter, Chief Bode said the party should revert to the dictates of its constitution.
“On the issue of Senator Iyocha Ayu, he should know that our founding fathers in their wisdom divided the country into six geopolitical zones so that every political zone will be represented,” he added.
“If the President comes from one zone, the vice president should come from another zone. The same thing applies to the Senate, down to the last position. So, zoning in our party is sacrosanct.
“Ayu was secretary to Gana, so he knows the truth. The North has the president, so, let us have a position to have inclusivity in our party to convince our people in the South why we are members of the party.”
