Prince Diran Odeyemi, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has attributed the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State to the ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is eyeing the 2027 presidential election.
During an interactive session organized by the League of Veteran Journalists in Osogbo on Tuesday, Odeyemi asserted that the strife between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike is directly connected to Atiku’s presidential aspirations.
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He urged Atiku to withdraw from the race for the PDP’s presidential ticket to foster peace within the party.
Additionally, Odeyemi called on Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, to work towards restoring unity within the PDP.
“For peace to return to the PDP, Atiku should publicly announce his decision to refrain from contesting the 2027 presidential election. Similarly, Wike should demonstrate his commitment to fostering peace within the party,” Odeyemi stated.
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He warned that without these commitments from both leaders, the internal conflict within the PDP is likely to continue. “They must recognize their responsibilities as leaders and elders in Nigeria. To ensure the party’s advancement and the country’s stability, they need to agree that peace is essential. As long as members remain divided between the two factions, the crisis will persist.”
Odeyemi characterized the situation in Rivers State as reflective of the broader crisis facing the PDP nationally, explaining that factions supporting Fubara align with Atiku, while those loyal to Wike oppose him.
In his remarks on the administration of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Odeyemi, who also chairs the Governing Council of Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, commended Adeleke for his notable achievements in office, citing significant progress across various sectors in less than two years.
He praised the governor for effectively managing the state’s resources and minimizing waste, anticipating further infrastructure improvements in the future.