Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has brokered a truce between the immediate past governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang and Senator Jeremiah Useni.
Wike, who met with the two Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders in Jos, Plateau State capital, on Wednesday, said his reconciliatory visit was necessary if the party was to reclaim state governorship position and defeat the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2023 general election.
The Rivers State governor, during the meeting which took place at the residence of Senator Useni, explained that his visit was necessitated by friction that had existed between the two leaders.
He noted that if the friction was not urgently resolved, it would affect the success of the party in future.
“I do know that there will be by-election at the federal constituency and state constituency, and then again we are talking about the gubernatorial and national election next year. If the party is not united, no matter how bad APC is, there is no way we can win.”
He continued: “And so, for me, personal sacrifices can be made if you’ve fought wars for this country for the unity of Nigeria and today Nigeria is bleeding, not only is Nigeria bleeding, Plateau too is bleeding. I have no apology to say that the people of Plateau State are waiting for you both to put the party together and then you will just take back Plateau State. Plateau state is a natural PDP state.”
Governor Wike stated that it would be a disservice to the people of Plateau if the two leaders allowed the APC to remain in power because of small disagreement between them.
He therefore urged them to set aside their political difference in the interest of the party.
“There are disagreements everywhere. There are disagreements in the party both at the national level. So, it is not a question of I am right. It is not a question of Jang is right; you are wrong or you are right, Jang is wrong. It is a question of, for whatever it takes, can we please, in the name of God, leave our personal interests and make our party move forward?”
The Rivers State governor implored both Jang and Senator Useni to make personal sacrifices to move the party forward not only in Plateau State, but also in Nigeria at large.
According to him, the unity of the party was key at this crucial moment because APC moles within the PDP were trying to sow seed of discord.
“APC is trying to penetrate our party to make sure that the leadership of the party at the national level is being distracted through one or two persons, but we are making sure that does not happen. While we are doing that we also want to make sure that the branches are also united.”
Governor Wike explained that rebuilding the party was what was most paramount to concerned members of the PDP who wanted the party to return to power at the centre and retake a majority of the States in the country.
“If the party is united, then we are sure of coasting home in 2023, and not just the national election, also Plateau State, knowing fully well that Plateau is a PDP state but somehow we are no longer in power in Plateau State.”
After a close-door meeting with the two PDP leaders, Governor Wike announced that they had agreed to set aside their difference and work together.
“I can tell you that the two of them have agreed. They will meet on their own, compare notes, and share, then we will later meet. By the grace of God, I can tell you that PDP will bounce back in Plateau State.”
Governor Wike also took a swipe at the ruling APC and declared that Nigerians who were already disenchanted with the pervading hunger in the land, insecurity and growing abject poverty were anxiously waiting for the PDP to return to power and rescue the nation.
And for this reason, he urged PDP members to unite in order to successfully wrest power from the APC.
“We have to put ourselves together. If we put ourselves together, then we will be helping Nigerians. But if we don’t put ourselves today, then Nigerians will not be happy with us because that means we are allowing the ruling party, its maladministration to remain in power.”
Former Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, thanked Governor Wike for visiting Jos to broker truce between him and Senator Useni.
He further disclosed that following the intervention of Governor Wike, himself and Senator Useni had agreed to work together in the interest of the party.
“We have agreed to work together to ensure the unity of PDP on the Plateau and ensure victory in 2023 election, not only governorship, all other elections, Federal or state. We want PDP to take its rightful position again on the Plateau and this is what we are going to work on. We want to thank His Excellency for coming to talk to us and we have agreed that we will continue from here.”
On his part, Senator Useni commended Governor Wike for finding time to come to Jos on a reconciliatory visit.
He assured the governor that himself, his former state governor would henceforth forge a common alliance in the interest of the party.
He disclosed that he had been following the development strides of the Rivers State governor and urged other governors to emulate him.
“I have been following your activities and I always tell people that if we have governors like you, Nigeria would have been changed.”
On Governor Wike’s entourage were, former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Timi Alaibe, Rivers State PDP chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, former Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche and Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, Senator Lee Maeba, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and former Rivers State PDP chairman, Felix Obuah.
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