Former Presidential aide Reno Omokri has claimed that Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has increased the popularity of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in the North.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State) have withdrawn their support for PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
They insisted that the only condition for supporting Atiku’s 2023 bid was the resignation of PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu and his replacement with a southerner.
Despite several meetings and entreaties on resolving the disagreement, Ayu has refused to step down, and the Governors’ position has not changed.
Wike has chastised the former Vice President for failing to keep a promise made to him after the PDP presidential election, and he has also accused Ayu of corruption.
However, in a tweet on Tuesday, Omokri stated that Atiku’s silence in the face of Wike’s provocations has galvanized the North behind the PDP flagbearer.
The controversial author went on to say that no matter what insult Wike hurled at him, Atiku remained silent and never responded, owing to his rising popularity in the North.
He wrote:
One other thing that galvanised the North behind Waziri Atiku Abubakar is the way he responded to Wike’s provocations. No matter the insult Wike threw at him, Atiku held his peace and NEVER responded. If you know how popular it has made Waziri, you will thank Wike!
Similarly, Omokri has mocked the LP flagbearer over ThisDay newspaper’s 2023 presidential election projections.
Projections released on Tuesday showed Atiku winning massive votes in 21 states, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Bola Tinubu, also hoping to win massive votes in 20 states.
Obi, on the other hand, came in third place, while the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, came in fourth place, trailing the former governor of Anambra State.
In response to the news, Omokri urged former PDP supporters who are now campaigning for Obi to rejoin the party and support Atiku.
He wrote:
I appeal to politicians still supporting Peter Obi. Look at the empty stadium in Kogi. Look at the ThisDay polls. Don’t be the fly that follows Obi into the political grave. Come and join or rejoin the PDP. We are obviously going to win and, we have space for you.