Former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi has recommended a discussion between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike as a way to tackle the lingering dissatisfaction in the party.
It is believed that the fallout of the PDP presidential primaries and the emergence of Ifeanyi Okowa as the party’s Vice Presidential candidate has caused bad blood between Wike and the party
The silence of the Rivers State Governor following the happenings is also believed to be causing jitters within the PDP leadership.
However, giving his opinion on the matter, Makarfi submitted during a chat on Thursday with newsmen in Kaduna that while Wike has every right to feel bad about the issues, the disagreements are resolvable.
The former Governor added that Atiku must visit Wike and explain why he took the decisions that led to the emergence of Okowa after the PDP National Working Committee and other party leaders had endorsed the Rivers State Governor as his running mate.
“I won’t blame Wike for feeling bad because he has been one of the pillars of the party,” the former governor said.
“Let the presidential candidate, Atiku, sit down with Wike to discuss issues because he is the only one that knows why he picked his running mate. The matter is resolvable,” Makarfi added.
Speaking further, Makarfi said all hands must be on deck for the PDP to return to winning ways during the 2023 elections.
He however expressed confidence that his party would return to power.
“We have learnt our lessons and we will do more than we did when we are in power,” he said.
“As long as elections will be held in 2023, PDP will win, but we need to work hard for us to win in 2023. PDP is set to bring true democracy back to Nigeria and we have learnt our lessons.”
Makarfi also debunked rumours that he was nursing plans to dump the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other party.
He said any report about his defection plan is a rumour which should be ignored.
“Honestly, I am hearing this for the first time that I am defecting from PDP to APC and I don’t know what can be the basis. Why should I make an investment in terms of time and whatever you can mention in PDP and now decide to leave?” Makarfi asked.
“Why should I go through the stress and just when we are getting it right, then I now leave the PDP for APC or any other party?
“What will be the attraction for me to leave the PDP? Well, people don’t approach me with such a rumor because they know the type of person that I am.
“If they want to come, they come to me with substance. What could be the basis? In every rumour there must be a basis. Is it because members of the opposition party attended my son’s wedding and that is the basis of that rumour?”
This article was originally published on Naija News
