AWKA – The rift between the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and the G5 governors would soon be a thing of the past, Chairman and Director of Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council in Anambra State, Senator Ben Obi and Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, have said.
The G5 governors are Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State).
The governors, who also have the strong backing of other important leaders of the party including some former governors, senators and others, have made their grievances known and also tabled demands that must be met before peace would return to the party.
But Obi and Okonkwo, at a PDP pre-rally press conference held in Awka to announce Atiku’s visit today, revealed that serious efforts were ongoing to resolve the differences existing between the two parties.
Obi said: “It is a common practice to have misunderstanding in political parties. For those of us who have been managers of political parties, it is a common thing. Now and again, there will be issues. But then, you have a team already constituted that is working on trying to resolve the issues. And we hope and believe that the issues will be resolved in no distant future.
“The G5 like you called them, they too are willing; you hear them say that they’re still open for reconciliation. So, the issue of reconciliation is ongoing. But it is not for public discourse. People are working on it and we hope, sooner than later, that matter will be put to rest.
On his part, Okonkwo said: “It is important that you know that no matter what is seen in the public as the rift, if you go to those states where these things are happening, the campaign is going on and the campaign is about voting PDP from top to bottom. In Abia State you know the popular phrase, ‘5 over 5 – president, governor, Senate, House of Reps and state Assembly’.
“Wike in his own state continues to campaign for the PDP. So, we have to let you know that we are very hopeful that all hopes are not lost…And again, let it be clear that in all their demands, they have not said that they have anything against Atiku Abubakar. They have talked about the PDP; talked about a few other individuals.”
