Again, Govs Wike, Makinde, Ortom Back To London For Talks After Stalemate With Atiku Camp

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, his Oyo and Benue State counterparts, Seyi Makinde and Samuel Ortom respectively are said to have met again in London, the United Kingdom on Friday to deliberate on their next move.

A source familiar with the development told Vanguard that Makinde, who has been on his annual vacation since the last meeting, was first joined by Wike, while Ortom who was on his way to the United States of America, made a stop-over.

It was learnt that the three southern region governors who had a stalemate with the camp of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, could sabotage the party and throw their support behind other candidates.

Chief among their demands which remained contentious is the call for the resignation of the embattled national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu.

Speaking with Vanguard, a top source and chieftain of the PDP said, “Unless a miracle happens, the reconciliation talks between Atiku and Wike have irretrievably collapsed.

“Wike and his team are currently in London where they met this afternoon and I have it on good authority that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, will be joining them to conclude talks started weeks ago.”

Another party source said, “The die is cast, Wike and his team have been canvassing for a Southern President of the Peoples Democratic Party extraction.

“They were prepared to make concessions in the interest of the party but the arrogance of some leaders on the other side has forced them to have a rethink.

“They’re (Wike and co) not considering leaving the party, far from it. We all knew what happened in 2015 and 2019; our troubles came mostly from within. The outsiders simply stepped up and slide into the cracks.

“Ayu too has not helped matters. Instead of playing the role of a father to all, he chose to satisfy the longing of Atiku and a few of his expired political acolytes. If you can remember, Ayu did not contest an election, there wasn’t a contest.

“Initially, there were three persons pencilled for the position when it was micro-zoned to Benue. They were: Sen. Gabriel Suswam, Sen. David Mark and Ayu.

“It was the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who in consultation with Wike and others thought it wise to let it go to Ayu.

“Ortom took it upon himself to talk to Suswam and Mark to get their buy-in and they stepped down in difference to him. Wike provided the largest chunk of the logistics which Ayu was to use to reach out to other caucuses but today, he calls all of them children. We shall see.”

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