2023: Details of Atiku-Wike meeting revealed

Details of the meeting in Abuja between Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 election, and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, have emerged.

GISTLOVER learned that both men met on Thursday at the instance of the opposition party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Senator Walid Jibrin.

The meeting was hosted by former Information and Culture Minister Prof. Jerry Gana at his residence.

This newspaper gathered that a confident Atiku had boasted that PDP can win the 2023 election without substantial votes from Wike’s Rivers State. According to him, there is no cause for alarm if Wike chose not to support him.

It would be recalled that Wike had complained about Atiku’s comments when the former Vice-President granted an interview to Arise TV recently. He was frank with his thoughts during his meeting with BoT members and Atiku.

A source said: “Wike joined issues with Atiku over his recent comments or pronouncements at the second meeting.

“He asked Atiku some questions, ‘Did I tell you I want to be the next Minister of Petroleum Resources?’, ‘Have I not been a minister before?’, ‘Have I asked for anything to support you?’

“Atiku responded with “no” to most of the questions.

“Throughout the meeting, Wike was busy with posers to clear some impressions from Atiku’s camp in public space. Obviously, he was uncomfortable with some comments attributed to Atiku and some of his strategists.

“But Atiku was calm in managing the situation.”