Dele Momodu Reveals How Wike’s Camp Allegedly Pushed Atiku Into 2023 Race
…Insists opposition coalition remains viable despite doubts
Veteran journalist and prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Dele Momodu, has made startling revelations about the internal dynamics that compelled former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to contest the party’s 2023 presidential primary, while maintaining that a proposed opposition coalition remains on course despite scepticism.
Dele Momodu spoke on ARISE News’ Morning Show on Wednesday monitored by SPEAR NEWS, where he disclosed that Atiku had initially been reluctant to run in 2023 but was practically forced into the race when powerful elements within the PDP, allegedly loyal to former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, blocked moves to zone the presidential ticket to the South-East.
He said when the zoning debate arose and Atiku was asked to respect the arrangement, the former vice president actually wanted the ticket to go to the South-East, Momodu revealed.
According to him, certain forces within the PDP, who claimed to champion zoning, were insincere and when it became clear they had no intention of honouring the arrangement, the ticket was thrown open. Atiku, seeing that the field was left without a consensus candidate, had no choice but to step in.
The publisher of Ovation Magazine went further to allege that the same factional politics drove former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, out of the PDP. “Let’s not forget, they frustrated Obi out of the party”. He said, the treatment Obi received made his exit inevitable
Momodu also addressed the lingering speculation about Wike’s role in the 2023 elections, challenging the former governor to deny reports that he had aggressively lobbied to be Atiku’s running mate.
“Let Wike come and deny that he never wanted to be Atiku Vice and I will tell him”, he said. Momodu declared, hinting at behind-the-scenes negotiations that collapsed due to irreconcilable differences.
Dismissing claims that the proposed opposition alliance, to be spearheaded by Atiku, was dead on arrival, Momodu drew parallels with the historic merger that birthed the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 and ultimately unseated then-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
“People said the APC merger would never work, but it worked. Necessity is the mother of invention. This coalition must be tried and tested.
While acknowledging the challenges of aligning disparate political interests, Momodu insisted that the coalition’s prospects remain bright.
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