2023: ARM, Pro-Atiku/Okowa PDP Group Moves Against Wike In Rivers

• As Sen Maeba accuses governor of anti-party activities

A powerful group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State on the aegis of Articulated Rivers Movement (ARM) that is essentially ‘Pro-Atiku/Okowa’, has warned Governor Nyesom Wike to desist forthwith from harassing presidential candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar.

This is as a former lawmaker on the platform of the PDP, Senator Lee Maeba declared that the invitation extended to key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Governor Wike to commission projects in an election period, amounted to a clear case of anti-party activities which must be viewed with all seriousness.

Senator Maeba, who until last weekend was a close political ally of Wike, said the Rivers Governor cannot continue to act as if he is above the party by attempting to have his way at all times without respect for the leadership and organs of the party.

Similarly, the ARM, whose members are ferociously in support of the PDP presidential candidate and his running, Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa respectively, noted that of all other aspirants that contested for political offices, none is behaving like Wike that is ranting and determined to bring down the roof as a result of his failure to win the Presidential and or Vice-Presidential slot of the party.

Acting secretary of the group, Mr. Joseph Amadi, said that Atiku was already a known industrialist, investor and resident of Rivers State long before Wike debuted into the political scene.

Amadi accused Wike of attempting to use arm twisting tactics against every member of PDP in Rivers State to support his unpopular cause of pulling down the PDP because he did not win the presidential primaries and was not picked as a vice presidential candidate by the flag bearer.

In the words of Amadi; “Governor Wike cannot stop Rivers people from voting their choice, especially where that choice is Atiku, who is widely considered as one of their own.

“PDP delegates exercised their discretion in selecting Atiku; and in the same vein, Atiku exercised his discretion in picking his 2023 running mate much in the same manner Governor Wike exercised his discretion in the choice of a Deputy Governor in 2015.

“It did not matter to Wike then whether there were seemingly more qualified candidates, or other better-known players who had heavily invested in the party.

“It was simply the Governor’s prerogative to run with someone he felt he could work with in a totalitarian fashion without question.”

“Towards this objective, members of our group have begun a door-to-door campaign to educate Rivers electorate on the special benefits an Atiku Presidency would accrue to Rivers State.

“We as ARM, hereby summit that Governor Wike’s continuous show of shame, blatant abuse of those who do hold differing views, and public rants are one of the surest signs of political lack of wisdom.

“Wike has shown that he is not qualified for any political appointment from the lowest to the highest in the nation. Calling Presidential candidate of the largest political party in Africa a liar is uncouth.

“We insist that he apologizes to Presidential candidate Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party as his actions are tantamount to anti-party activities,” Amadi said.

The group also described the conditions given by Wike to Atiku as not only ridiculous but insulting and disrespectful, stressing that such frivolous conditions must be discarded and dismissed.

According to ARM; “It is unconstitutional to ask Atiku to endorse a one-term tenure (should he win) even before the election is held.

“That it is in poor taste to attempt to force an incumbent National Party Chairman to resign and open the floor for scrambles and internal crisis few months before the elections; and that Governor Wike does not possess the constitutional right to unilaterally coax the party to adopt and fulfil these ludicrous conditions”.

ARM noted that it would appear that Governor Wike thinks himself as the ‘owner’ of Rivers State due to his frivolous and extravagant expenditure culture and pointedly told him that the funds which he deployed in pursuing his personal interests (engaging delegates and voters) do not belong him nor his family but the entire people of Rivers State.

It said that it is high time Rivers people checked the excesses of Wike before he plunges the State into serious mess.

The ARM assured the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Party that they will deliver the votes of Rivers people irrespective of the antics of the Governor.

ARM insist that Wike must apologize to the PDP and Atiku for calling them liars, saying that Atiku represents the aspiration of all PDP members and supporters.