PDP Crisis: Wike, Makinde, Ortom, Others Join APC
“Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold; turning and turning in the widening gyre , the falcon no longer hears the falconer”-Chinua Achebe
The above quotation from Chinua Achebe’s classic, ‘Things fall Apart’ aptly captured the dilemma of the Peoples Democratic Party’s G-5 governors later rechristened ‘Integrity Group’.
Former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and his friends may have reached a dead end as far as the Peoples Democratic Party is concerned and may want to try their luck elsewhere.
Fubara & Wike at the Thanksgiving Service
Now, the next port of call is the ruling All Progressives Congress where they played a prominent roles to enthroned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group apart from the fact that they may no longer be needed in the PDP may have made up their mind that for them to enjoy full patronage in the ruling party, they must join the party.
The only survivor of the five, Seyi Makinde gave an inkling of what will happen in the next few days when he jocularly asked those asking why he was a regular visitor at the Villa if they would want him to visit Yola.
His reference to Yola which is the state capital of Adamawa the home state of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is an indication that all is over for him in the PDP.
To worsen the matter, he has been stripped of the leader of the PDP in south west with his position ceded to Osun state governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke.
Ironically, what Makinde is saying is that power had changed hands.
In Abia state, the new helmsman, Alex Otti who dethroned Victor Ikpeasu, one of the G-5 governors had accused him of running to join the APC to escape prosecution because of the alleged mindless looting of the state.
In Benue, Samuel Ortom, after losing the election not only withdraw his initial litigation to challenge his Senatorial loss to the APC, he has been cooperating with the APC governor, Rev Hycienth Allia, fueling speculation that his moving back to the APC is just a matter of time.
In Rivers State, Wike’s protégé, Similaye Fubara made a passionate plea at the weekend to him: “Don’t be far from me, if you cross over” , he told Wike in an emotion laden voice.
Fubara said;“While we are seeing sign that it’s like you want to go over to the other side with everybody wishing that, please don’t be too far from me because I know that the sharks, the tigers are really around looking for what to hurt.
“So, being around would continue to guide and put my head straight for the purpose of this state,” he said.
At the Thanksgiving Service, Wike regaled his audience how he was poisoned at the PDP’s headquarters. And with the perpetual injunction preventing the PDP from suspending or expelling him lifted, Wike knew that it’s all over.
In the next few days, the G-5 is APC bound as they put finishing touches to their defection plans.
