The crisis rocking the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not over yet as the scheduled date for the proposed reconciliation meeting between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, remains uncertain.

At the weekend, Ayu confirmed that the National Working Committee (NWC) would meet with Wike and other aggrieved members of the party with a view to achieving reconciliation ahead of the general election.

But yesterday, it was learnt that the meeting scheduled for Wednesday still hangs in the balance as the Rivers governor is said to be reluctant to meet with the PDP boss who in his views, cannot keep to his words.

Daily Sun gathered that the visit to Port Harcourt by the NWC delegation, which is to be led by the PDP Deputy National Chairman (North), Illiya Damagun, was originally slated for today or tomorrow.

However, members of the NWC, who spoke with Daily Sun, yesterday, said they were unsure of the exact date of the Port Harcourt meeting, as there were no official information to that effect as at press time.

One of the NWC member, who is also a PDP national vice chairman told our correspondent, yesterday, that he was not aware of the planned visit, noting that, “if it is tomorrow (today), we would have been notified by now.”

Another member of the party organ noted that the leadership would have to secure a convenient time for the peace mission to Rivers State. “We will have to get a convenient time.”

Daily Sun also learnt from a highly placed member of the PDP that Wike’s position on the crisis would not change as he is still insisting that Ayu must go for a southerner to take his place to ensure equity and justice in the party.

He said the Rivers governor believes that PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Ayu were only‘playing familiar politics by organising a meeting with a pre-determined outcome.

Our source said: “How many meetings will they have before they do the right thing? It is not just by having meetings. What is important is for people to do things with honour and integrity. Just the other day, you called some people children and today, you are scheduling a meeting for reconciliation. Meanwhile, the subject of the crisis is that Ayu, a northerner must go for a southerner to take his place.

That is the right thing to do and until it is done, what is the essence of holding a reconciliation meeting.”

Ayu, during a visit to the chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, at the weekend said NWC would visit Port Harcourt as part of renewed efforts to pacify Wike and his supporters who are aggrieved over recent developments in the PDP.

Last week, the National Executive Committee (NEC) passed a vote of confidence in the Ayu-led NWC.

The face-off between Wike and Atiku among other reasons, started following the choice of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as Atiku’s running mate on the one hand, and the insistence of the Rivers governor’s group on the removal of the party’s national chairman, Senator Ayu, on the other hand.

The call for Ayu’s removal was consequent upon the emergence of Atiku, a northerner, as presidential candidate. Wike has insisted that Ayu, also a northerner, should resign from office to give room for a southern national chairman for fairness, equity and balancing.

The vice president met Wike in London recently to pacify the governor, who had earlier met Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP)’s presidential candidate with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in attendance.

Despite the several moves for truce, including the London meeting, Governor Wike appears resolved to reject any move for reconciliation to pacify him to support the PDP presidential candidate.

Specifically, Wike was quoted to have told top members of his group, including Governors ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia states, that reconciliation was out of the way except certain conditions were met. The governor was also said to be angry over Atiku’s decision to bring his political foes closer, including former PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

It was gathered that Wike believed the romance with Secondus and others by Atiku was a clear demonstration by the former VP that he could work with others in his absence. In what appeared like erecting further hurdles in the way of any reconciliation, the governor, came up with a six-point demand at their London meeting, top of which is the removal of Ayu.

Part of the conditions was that Wike wanted the party to allow him to nominate Ayu’s replacement, a signed commitment from Atiku to serve out only one term and that he (Wike) be allowed to also nominate principal officers of the National Assembly and some ministers if PDP wins the 2023 presidential election. (Daily Sun)

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