2023: Wike, Fintiri Offer Insights On PDP Presidential Flag-bearer

• Highlight candidate’s qualities, reject zoning

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – The battle of wits for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential ticket come 2023 general elections has already commenced with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his Adamawa State counterpart, Ahmadu Fintiri, upbeat about the qualities expected of the candidate.

They believe that instead of zoning, the calibre, character, and pull of the candidate among others should be the stand-out traits of the presidential candidate for the party to take over power in 2023.

According to a statement by Wike’s Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, the two governors offered their deep thoughts on the party going forward during his principal’s courtesy visit to Fintiri at the Government House in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

It stated that with Governor Wike focused on the when and how the party’s standard flag-bearer would emerge for the 2023 race, his host, Fintiri, who pointedly took a swipe at plans to zone the presidential ticket, talked about the attributes of the candidate.

According to a statement by Wike’s Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, the two governors offered their deep thoughts on the party going forward during his principal’s courtesy visit to Governor Fintiri at the Government House in Yola, the Adamawa State capital on Friday.

The statement disclosed that Governor Wike and his entourage were in Yola to commend the Adamawa Chief Executive for leading the PDP Convention Planning Committee that successfully conducted the recently held exercise.

The Rivers governor hinted that following the success of its convention, PDP stakeholders would at the appropriate time collectively decide their presidential candidate as the party gets set to take over the reins of power at the centre from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.

Commending Fintiri and the Convention Planning Committee members for a job well done and making the party proud with a transparent and hitch-free exercise, Governor Wike said; “For making our party proud, today Nigerians believe that PDP has put themselves in a position to take over the affairs of this country.”

He admitted that “it was not easy”, adding that those who have not participated in organising a party convention might presume it was an easy feat to accomplish.

“At a time most people were expecting that it may not work out for PDP. It only did not work out well, it was peacefully conducted, the best ever conducted since PDP started. I believe that when people have done well, you commend them.

“When you give them another opportunity, they will put in their best. And that is one of the things I have come today to say my brother, you’ve done well with your people. You did not put us to shame.”

He said in nominating Fintiri to chair the Planning Committee, the Party had no doubts about his capacity to deliver a credible and transparent convention, adding; ”Today, Ahmadu Fintiri has become a household name in Nigerian politics, because of the convention he conducted very transparently. Thank you for what you have done for our great party.”

Away from party politics, the Rivers Chief Executive also lauded the host’s developmental strides, especially within Yola, the State capital, saying; “How much does he get from the federation account, yet he is able to judiciously put them into use for the interest and development of Adamawa State.”

“If other people had done this within the city, he would have moved on to other areas that need attention. I want to plea to all of you to continue to give him the support”, Wike said

Responding to his visitor’s comments, Fintiri said successfully conducting the PDP convention has offered Nigerians, particularly the younger generation, an alternative platform in 2023 to elect a caring and people-oriented Nigerian president.

Fintiri, who thanked all PDP governors and Party’s stakeholders for backing the Planning Committee to serve and succeed, said; “God, through his wisdom has seen us through. We have a stable party that is ready to take government in 2023.

He specially acknowledged Governor Wike’s immense contributions to the Convention’s success, saying; “We must thank you for your thoughtfulness to come on this courtesy call to appreciate the little we were able to do in carrying out this assignment on behalf of all of us.”

In urging his guest and other concerned stakeholders not to relent in their support for the party in the coming years, Fintiri said; “We are not just colleagues, we are not just in the same party, we have discovered ourselves to be good friends and even metamorphosing into being brothers. This is what we need in this country.”

He also opened up on his rejection of zoning the presidency saying; “I am for those that are calling for good candidates that can bring this country together, and improve on the potentials that abound in both the humans and capital of Nigeria.

“But, I trust that whoever we are going to get as our presidential candidate in 2023, will be the person that Nigerians want, will be the person that understands this country, and will be the person that will pull this country together and put her where she belongs in the comity of nations.”

On efforts at attracting more members into the PDP, the Adamawa governor said his administration’s human and infrastructural development are speaking as public testimonials, even as he admitted that; “It is not easy considering the available resources, but through fiscal discipline and elimination of waste by in governance, we are able to save and put it into developmental projects.”