With the crisis-triggered shenanigans between Wike and Atiku, should learn from defected PDP governors who went to the PDP, ahead of the 2015 elections. He must ruminate on their political, electoral, and significance value in post-election seasons in the PDP.
It is no longer a secret that Wike is hobnobbing and flirting with opposition presidential candidates in the persons of the APC Bola Tinubu and LP Peter Obi ahead of the 2023 elections.
With tight-lip, muted comments from Atiku, Wike must be wary to put on the defence of the tortoise who withdraws into the safe chamber of its shell from a stalking tiger – the silence of the lion does not make it docile. Atiku and members of his group are not resting on their oars; they are assiduously, day and night, working to put in place, an alternative political body of PDP faithfuls who will take/sweep the rug from under the feet of Wike in Rivers State.
Going by the above scenario, what are the chances of Wike retaining Rivers State for the PDP in the 2023 general elections?
When the gods are silent, wise men prepare sacrifices to appease them. Former president Goodluck Johnathan had refused to directly comment or intervene in the on-going crisis between Atiku Abubakar and governor Wike. Perhaps this is purely based on the law of natural justice that what goes round, comes around. Perhaps karma is at work; working against Atiku Abubakar and members of his group – former Senate president, Saraki has remained taciturn, aloof, maintaining silence, at least publicly, to comment on the Wike-Atiku brickbat.
Like the defection of PDP governors to the APC, ahead of the 2015 general elections that swept former president Johnathan out of office, the Wike-Atiku imbroglio may deny the PDP the golden opportunity to get back into Aso Rock, especially with the past 7 and half years lacklustre, below average performance of President Buhari and the APC.
If he must remain politically relevant, post-2023 elections, Governor Wike must be alert to not being consigned to the pit of political irrelevance by those he is presently contending with in the PDP. Wike must learn from the classic historical perspective of Julius Caesar who was ‘assassinated’ at the Capitol by members of men from the camp of Brutus. Unlike the case of Julius Caesar, Wike might not have a faithful loyalist like Mark Anthony, who stood firmly to defend the actions of Caesar.
As for Atiku, Ayu and the PDP, the earlier they learn from the inglorious defection of PDP governors in 2013 to the APC, and the aftermath consequences on Johnathan and the PDP, the better their chances to return to Aso Rock in 2023.
Will Atiku sacrifice the chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, his camp members and meet other demands of Wike to enthrone peace in the PDP, for a robust opposition campaign for the 2023 general elections? Even the APC has its fair share of internal wrangling but the APC is managing it. Perhaps Atiku will learn from the APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, who has bent backwards to tolerate/settle internal opposition from within his party to focus on his 2023 presidential ambition.
The fate and destiny of the PDP remains on a tripod – Wike, Atiku and Ayu. Will one or two of these men unite to fight a common enemy for the PDP to return to Aso Rock in 2023?
The 2023 elections presents the finest opportunity for Wike and Atiku to remain shining lights of the PDP and to become politically relevant, post-2023.
Atiku Abubakar must deliberately seek the cooperation of former president Goodluck Johnathan, apologise to him for his 2013 ‘mistake’, involve him in resolving the PDP crisis, and restoration of peace between him and Wike.