The political volcano erupting over the call for Dy Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go by the Concerned Peoples Democratic League (CPDPL) and Governor Wike-led group reached a political crescendo this week.
However, in a response personally signed by Atiku Abubakar via his aide on the demand by Governor Wike demand for Ayu to go said, “the decision for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to resign from office is personal to Dr. Ayu and, neither I nor anyone else can make that decision for him”. Meanwhile, Dr. Ayu said,” I cannot resign or cannot step down because the party has given him a vote of confidence”.
In a swift reaction, the spokesperson of the Concerned PDP League (CPDPL), Rashidat Abubakar, said, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential Candidate, and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP National Chairman, appear to have conspired and bent on destroying the PDP – an act they failed to achieve in 2007 but now want to achieve in 2023. Atiku and Ayu are PDP’s most recent biggest mistakes ever.
The CPDPL spokesperson expressed total disappointment and condemned Atiku and Ayu for inflicting and prolonging such a political agony on the majority of PDP members who want fairness, justice, and equanimity to prevail in the composition of the higher echelon of the party structure. Rashidat Abubakar quoted, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria saying that “When justice is denied, you won’t feel it until you’re denied.”
Recall that some days ago, Gov. Wike was alleged to have said, “Atiku told me that, Ayu must go since he Atiku has emerged as the presidential candidate to create a balance between the north and south and I challenge Atiku to deny it.” And so far, Atiku has not been able to deny the assertion.
Also recall that in October 2021, Ayu during an interview was quoted to have promised, “I’m a very democratic person and I will do everything to promote the interest and image of my party. If the PDP says I should step down after a presidential candidate emerges and happens to be from the North, I will be very glad to do so because what we want is to take over the government and run the government in the interest of Nigerians. So, I’ll sacrifice anything to ensure that my party wins.”
But contradicting his own statement, Ayu appears resolved to remain as party chairman even if that decision will polarise and eventually sound the death knell on the party.
“The inability of Atiku and Ayu to keep their own words has given Nigerians the impression rightly or wrongly that, they lack political credibility and in particular Atiku cannot unity Nigeria since he cannot unity his own party – it is said that charity begins at home” she added.
Rashidat Abubakar, a grassroots mobilizer, maintained that Ayu’s refusal to resign is a recipe for PDP’s 2023 electoral failure because his continued stay in office has become repulsive to southern members of the party and their northern empathizers alike.
“If Ayu is anything close to a gentleman, he should honourably resign from that position to give our party a fighting chance at the polls. It is imperative that Ayu toes the path of honour, in the interest of the PDP if he has the party at heart at all.
Comrade Abubakar said, “We Stand with those fighting for justice and equity in our party. We support Governor Wike’s led group and insist that Ayu must go.
She buttressed, “You can’t eat your cake and have it. I want to assure the equity and justice group that the Wike-led group will join them to give Atiku and Ayu the 2014 treatment to remind them of karma because they have proven inconsistent and unreliable. We will continue to fight for the right things to be done.”
#AyuMustGo #CanAtikuReallyRescueNigeria?
