Atiku Abubakar has given it back to Rivers Gov Nyesom Wik’s man Friday in the southwest in the back-and-forth on the resignation of the PDP national chairman Iyorchia Ayu.
Both sides are laying mind games, though.
Atiku and his men, including governors and party stalwarts, tried to isolate and ambush Oyo Gov. Seyi Makinde meddling in the fight between Wike and Atiku since the former lost the PDP presidential ticket and the V.P. slot.
But the baby governor refused to sell out, and parroted the line their principal has given all his men: Ayu must go.
Not the one to be thrown off balance, Atiku responded, agreeing with Makinde.
“It’s possible,” Atiku said.
“The calls for the resignation of the national chairman or any national officer can only be achieved through the party’s constitution.
“The party’s constitution can only be amended.”
Atiku’s strategists are trying to penetrate Wike’s five-man flank by reaching out to them one by one.
So far, the weakest link of them—Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi— has been identified. Gov. Samuel Ortom is still floating. And Abia Gov. Okezie Ikpeau and Makinde are reading their master’s lips.
Analysts expected Makinde to have been absent at the southwest meeting with Atiku. His presence now could mean he’s not exactly impregnable.
The National Daily gathered that among those who besieged the governor on Wednesday in Ibadan were Governors Ifeanyi Okowa, Atiku’s running mate, and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto; Senator Ademola Adeleke; Soji Adagunodo; Chief Raymond Dokpesi; former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu and his counterparts from Ondo, Olusegun Mimiko and Osun, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.