3 Reasons Wike Lost Out In PDP VP Slot
OpenLife Nigeria reports that fresh facts have emerged as how last minute politicking swayed the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to picking Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.
Clearly, three reasons have been advanced as reasons Nyesom Wike lost out.
According to information, it was gathered in Abuja, on Thursday, that although the consultative committee set up to assist Atiku pick a running mate was predominantly favourably disposed to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, the candidate opted for Okowa, whom he felt was level headed and had the right temperament to add value to the ticket.
A source explained that the candidate held meetings which lasted into the early hours of “this morning.”
The source said, “The candidate has to prove very early enough that he is his own man. The decision for him to pick Okowa was made easy by the fact that he was on the list of those short listed.
“There were also pressures from powerful interests who citied Wike’s hard stance on issues of taxation especially with respect to the Rivers State court case against the Federal Government, on the Value Added Tax.
“Considering the fact that the Vice President will be in charge of the economy, a number of people felt it would be too risky to have someone with Wike’s temperament in charge.
“There is also the issue of legislative liaison. The candidate (Atiku) explained and rightly too that Okowa, who was a Senator was better placed to build synergy between legislators and the executive.”
Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, a Nigerian politician and lawyer is the sixth and current Governor of Rivers State.
He is an Ikwerre from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State.
Wike who is happily married with children was educated at Rivers State University of Science and Technology.
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