Nyesom Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, is noticeably absent from a one-day retreat organised for elected officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) currently taking place at the Banquet Hall in the Government House, Bauchi State.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Damagum, explained that the purpose of inviting members from the minority opposition party was to establish a solid and unified force for the National Assembly leadership.
Among the distinguished attendees are Governors Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, Duoye Diri of Bayelsa, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Dauda Dare of Zamafara, and Godwin Obaseki of Edo (represented by his deputy, Philip Shuaibu).
Other notable figures present include the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar; the National Working Committee led by the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara; former PDP National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi; former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Walid Jibril; former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu; former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal; and the Kogi State Governorship Candidate, Dino Melaye.
Serving Senators and House of Representatives members, as well as newly elected members, are also in attendance, accompanied by the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, who is also the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, among others.
Furthermore, several lawmakers from the Labour Party, the Young Progressives Party, and other opposition minority parties were noticeably present at the event.
However, Wike, who, alongside Governors Makinde, Ugwuanyi, Ortom, and Ikpeazu, formed the G-5 Governors, did not attend the meeting, nor did he send a representative in his place.
Although no official reason has been provided for Wike’s absence, strong speculations suggest that he has left the PDP.
As previously reported by this newspaper, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, used the occasion to voice his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s approach to the removal of fuel subsidy.
Atiku expressed concerns about the decision, which has faced widespread backlash across the country due to the subsequent sharp increase in fuel prices.
Drawing from his experience as the chairman of a committee responsible for subsidy removal between 1999 and 2007, Atiku emphasised the importance of providing assistance to those most affected by the removal.
