Osita Okechukwu, director-general of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), says the crisis currently bedeviling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has its root in the violation of the power rotation ideal by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
He asserted that Atiku’s breach of the concept of power rotation between the south and north showed he’s not a unifier.
Okechukwu made the assertion on Sunday while addressing newsmen in Abuja.
Okechukwu noted the breach is the genesis of the rift between Abubakar and Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor.
Okechukwu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, said the decision of Atiku to contest the 2023 election is against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) constitution.
The VON DG said it would be a difficult task for Atiku to win the election due to various patriotic Nigerians who believe in the concept of zoning.
“My take is that Atiku is not a unifier and cannot defeat the Northern Governors Forum, Buhari, Obasanjo, Adebanjo, Clark and the sophisticated northern electorate by his mission to win by dividing the north and the south,” he said.
“It is an unforced error to think that he can manipulate our fault lines and the abundance of unifier patriots of the north. The northern electorate are very sophisticated, they voted for Zik, Abiola and Obasanjo.”
Okechukwu said the crisis rocking the party is unlikely to end before the 2023 election.
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“Truly, take it or leave it, Governor Nyesom Wike’s main grouse is Atiku’s violent breach of PDP’s constitution, manipulation of governor Aminu Tambuwal and our fault lines,” he said.
“My bet is that the wound of Machiavellian dosage Atiku infested the PDP is not likely going to heal before the 2023 presidential election.
“These unifier patriotic forces won’t allow him no matter his gusto to trample and rubbish the good works of patriots who sacrificed their presidential ambition and instituted the rotation convention in our political firmament.
“Remember that before the APC Northern Governors Forum were unifier elder statesmen – Alhajis Abubukar Rimi, Umaru Shinkafi, Adamu Ciroma, Sola Saraki, who for equity, unity, fairness and enthronement of sense of belonging dropped their presidential ambition in 1999. They placed the unity of Nigeria above self.
“Please, don’t forget that we have unforgettable unification lessons. One is that Atiku violently breached PDP’s constitution, which expressly provided for rotation of power. This places in doubt his unifier claim.