Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Atiku Abubakar has sent a special goodwill message to the Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike, celebrating him on his birthday
The message posted on his verified social media handles read, “As you turn 55 today, I pray that all lines fall in pleasant places for you. Enjoy your special day”
Atiku’s felicitation is coming amid the worsening rift that has trailed his victory at the party’s presidential primary last May.
The crisis has seen the party polarized, with the Rivers Governor leading a group which calls itself Integrity Group, or G-5 comprising the governors of Oyo, Abia, Enugu and Benue states. The governors have boycotted all activities of the Presidential Campaign Council including the campaign rallies despite being nominated as members.
They have repeatedly demanded that they can only be part of the party’s presidential council and take part in its activities if the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, resigns to pave the way for someone from the south to take that position, citing inclusion, fairness and equitable representation; a demand which the former Vice President insisted is not within his powers, but that of the party and its constitution.
With less than two months to the presidential election, the face off has only gotten worse, with the leader of the G-5, Governor Nyesom Wike, intensifying his attacks, not just on the party, but its presidential candidate.
On Sunday, he condemned those against the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, saying those against same faith ticket cannot be supporting a northerner emerging as president after eight years of Buhari’s administration. Atiku Abubakar is from Adamawa state, in Nigeria’s north east.
Despite the attacks, some have commended Atiku Abubakar for celebrating Wike amid the political feud between them, describing it as a show of political maturity while others say it is an attempt to win back the Rivers state governor
