Wike absent as South South Govs, Atiku meet

 Wike absent as South South Govs, Atiku meet

South south Governors, ex-Governors and stakeholders of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar met in Uyo at the weekend.

But Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike was visibly absent at the meeting tagged 'Southsouth zonal meeting of the People's Democratic Party."

However, Governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Ifeanyi Okowa(Delta), Douye Diri(Bayelsa) and Godwin Obaseki(Edo) attended the meeting, urging all contending factions and interests in the party to unite.

The meeting, which precedes the official flag-off of the Presidential campaign in Uyo on Monday, also discussed other burning issues including reviving the nation's ailing economy

Emmanuel, who is the Chairman, Presidential Campaign Council of PDP, harped on the need for South-South leaders of the party to demonstrate unity of purpose and strength to make a difference in revamping the economy.

" We are gathered here this evening so that we can have a common front and also negotiate strongly as a people because if we go individually we won't be able to make an impact, but if we go as a group and a team, I want to believe that we will make a very strong impact.

"Let us be rest assured that in the next dispensation this country will go back to PDP and on PDP this country must stand. I want to believe that once we return next year we will take back the economy of Nigeria and once we strengthen the economy, hope will rise and things will fall back in pleasant places," he assured

The vice presidential candidate of PDP Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, emphasised on the need for unity and cooperation of South-South Governors and leaders noting, his strength as a vice presidential candidate lies in their collective support to rescue Nigeria from its harsh economic crunch.

The Director- General of PDP Presidential Campaign 2023 Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said with the flag-off of the presidential campaign in Uyo, the party is set for victory, adding that with the pedigree of the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who is experienced, he is most qualified for the plum job.

Obaseki and his counterpart of Bayelsa Douye Diri in their goodwill messages called for support and mobilization from ward and unit levels across the country, noting that with the strength of PDP in the South South region, the party is set to restore the country to its glory days.

The governorship candidate of PDP in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, also in a goodwill message, expressed confidence in the party to deliver across the state in its elective positions in the general elections next year.

Others stakeholders drawn from PDP across the six geo-political zones who presented messages of goodwill include included former Governors Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, Celestine Omehia of Rivers, Chief Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State, as well as Chief Tom Ikimi, Senator Gershom Bassey, Senator George Sekibo, Senator Stella Omuh.