Lamido: Atiku, Wike can’t Negotiate without PDP leaders
POLITICS DIGEST – A former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has warned that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, should not enter into any reconciliatory agreement and negotiation with any aggrieved member of the party without the party hierarchy.
According to him, Atiku, a former Vice President, lacked the authority to discuss the outcome of the PDP convention which had polarised the party between him and allies of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Lamido issued the warning in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday in reaction to the recent meeting between Atiku and Wike at the residence of a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Prof Jerry Gana.
Although the details of the meeting held behind closed-doors were sketchy, sources in the PDP had said it signalled what observers believed was reconciliatory moves to pacify the governor.
The source said, “Atiku and Wike met (on Thursday afternoon) at the residence of Jerry Gana. It was a good meeting, from what I gathered.
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“There was exchange pleasantries and they have resolved to move the reconciliation to the next stage.”
Asked if it could assumed that Wike and Atiku have settled, the source said, “They have started the process; this started with a one-on-one interface.
“This will lead to a certain level and they can now resolve all the issues.”
The source also said discussions were still ongoing about the choice of Director-General of Atiku Campaign Organization.
When contacted, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, declined comment.
But Lamido said as a candidate produced by the party through a convention, he lacked the authority to speak on it and embark on any reconciliatory agreement.
He said, “I have no idea about the discussion between Wike, Atiku and Jerry Gana as individuals, I’ve no idea. To me, it is not a party meeting, get it very clear. It could be anything but not a party meeting. They can reconvene and talk in Jerry Gana’s house.
“Whatever issues they discussed is simply within themselves and has no bearing on the party because it was the party that produced Atiku and therefore being a creation of a process that is very transparent in what is called the convention, he is owned by the convention, he is owned by the party”.
