-By Austen Akhagbeme:

Amidst an unending crisis that has dangerously factionalised and fractionalised the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, the Party still went ahead to flag off its campaign in Governor Emmanuel Udom’s city of Uyo on Monday.

And like a limping athlete, the PDP has chosen to go into the race with a major injury having failed to reconcile the Governor Wike faction who are hell-bent on removing the present chairman of the party to create room for equity and fairness in the sharing of key offices between the North and the South within the Party.

Some have argued that Governor Nyesom Wike is overbeating the drum of acrimony and that he should give peace a chance and let Iyorchia Ayu be. They added that winning the presidential election is more important than removing the Chairman and that they can always prevail on the Chairman to step down after the battle is won.

Some others have accused Nwike of bad sportsmanship and vindictiveness. After all, the same Nyesom Wike was instrumental to the emergence of Iyorchia Ayu as against Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was equally a strong contender.

No matter how one looks at it, it is sheer arrogance on the part of the leadership of the Party to choose to ignore five incumbent governors (four of which are from the South) no matter what and went ahead to flag off their campaigns. For the Presidential candidate, this is not a show of tact, acumen or capacity to resolve a family feud, as it were.

If I may ask: what does Atiku want? Is it the Presidency or the love for Ayu? Why is he attempting to sacrifice his hard-earned ticket for the love of selfish and primordial interests that may not allow his ambition to come to pass? What is difficult in telling his friend, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to step down given the circumstances? Who is urging him to continue on this road to infamy in a dire contest that is potentially too close to call already? This “umbrella” is truly in the storm!

How does the PDP hope to penetrate the South West without governor Seyi Makinde, Chief Bode George; the South East without governors Ikpeazu and Ugwanyi? How about capturing the South-South without Governor Wike and Chief Dan Orbih, the region’s party Vice- Chairman?
The earlier this issue is resolved the better for the party. Going into the elections while ignoring the potential goodwill of five serving governors is like a bird flying with one wing.

• Austen Akhagbeme is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online