...Removed The Carpet From Wike’s Feet

How former Vice President Atiku Abubakar beat 14 other aspirants to clinch the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday.

It was learnt that two last-minute negotiations with presidential aspirants from the North, especially Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal, gave Atiku the cutting edge over his closest rival, River State Governor Nyesom Wike. The former Vice-President had 371 votes as against Wike’s 237.

The Nation gathered that before agreeing to step down, Tambuwal had been in talks with Atiku for the position of President of the Senate in 2023.

However, the intervention of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), acting on behalf of some founders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made Tambuwal to back Atiku.

The same forces accounted for the withdrawal of another aspirant, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, from the race in the early hours of Saturday.

Also, in order to give all Northern aspirants the benefit of the doubt, Atiku also held a meeting in Transcorp Hilton with Tambuwal, Dr Bukola Saraki, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Hayatu-Deen on the need to present him as a common front against Wike.

The Transcorp Hilton session was triggered by an intelligence report that Wike, who had a big war chest, might clinch the ticket without a united North.

Sources at the meeting said the Bauchi governor stormed out after claiming that he was confident of getting the PDP ticket.

Former Senate President Saraki also said he preferred to go the whole hog based on the facts and figures available to him that he was going to triumph at the primary.

A source, who spoke with our reporter in confidence said: “As at Friday, the situation was still dicey because Wike gave a good fight and his war chest was massive. For five hours, Atiku was on the phone pleading with all the delegates one by one. He succeeded in reaching out to 95 per cent of the delegates.

“In order not to take chances, it became apparent that there must be some realignment and closing of ranks by Northern aspirants. A former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, who probably acted on behalf of the founding fathers of PDP, had a meeting with Atiku and Tambuwal at his residence in Abuja.

“The meeting was more or less the icing on the cake because Atiku and Tambuwal had been having covert meetings for about three weeks with an offer of a Senate presidency for the Sokoto State governor if Atiku wins..

”The intervention of the ex-NSA wrapped up all the covert meetings by Atiku and Tambuwal.

“The Sokoto State governor agreed to step down for Atiku but with a caveat that it will be at the last minute when it will be difficult for other aspirants, especially Wike, to press any button to change the equation.”

Another source spoke of Atiku’s olive branch to other Northern presidential aspirants in Transcorp Hilton on Saturday.

The source said: “As part of the agenda of a united North to curtail the hurricane influence of Wike on delegates, Atiku met with aspirants from the North in Transcorp Hilton on Saturday.

“The PDP presidential flag bearer had offers to accommodate all the aspirants, including Office of Chief of Staff for Saraki, a ministerial appointment for Hayatu-Deen, second term governorship ticket for Mohammed (Bala) and of course Tambuwal for Senate presidency.

“But at the session, the aspirants did not allow the presentation of negotiation terms. They considered Atiku as being in a weak position for him to have called for the meeting.

“Governor Bala Mohammed, who was sure of victory, stormed out. Saraki said he wanted to complete the race having done his homework well that he could get the ticket. Hayatu-Deen, who had been spoken to by some Northern elders, opted to withdraw.

“But Tambuwal, who was privy to the agenda of some Northern leaders and founding fathers of the PDP, was only tagging along at the meeting. He was enjoying the “accord ‘concordiale”’ with Atiku without suspicion by other aspirants.

“In line with the deal, Tambuwal acted the script at the nick of time at the convention ground. Beyond Sokoto, Tambuwal rallied his supporters nationwide to back Atiku.

“Although Kano delegates were holed up somewhere by Wike’s strategists, calls were made to them on the Northern script for Atiku and most of them complied.”

There were reports yesterday that Wike got an intelligence report on the gang-up when it was too late for any remediation.

A source in Atiku’s camp said: “We suspected he got intelligence of the final intrigues when he came up to say that he will support whoever wins at the primaries.

“We realised that Wike had gone far and may cause an upset. It became necessary to realign forces and curtail him.”

As of press time last night, it was gathered that Atiku may leave Abuja for Dubai today (Monday) to take what a source described as a “well-deserved rest.”

The source said: “Despite the stress of the presidential primaries, Atiku held a wrap up meeting with his campaign team on Sunday on the next stage of his campaign.

The intrigues that gave the Peoples Democratic Party presidential ticket to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and ensured the defeat of Governor Nyesom Wike

The victory of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar at the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend in Abuja did not happen by a stroke of luck. Rather, it was a well articulated decision by Northern stakeholders to retain power by having another Northerner after eight years of President Mohammadu Buhari.

-The intrigues-

The game changer was the governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and others that discretely stepped down for Atiku before voting started at the presidential nomination convention.

Before the convention kicked off, there were series of horse trading that swung the tide in favour of the former Vice President. Top northern stakeholders of the PDP had weighed on the two governors: Tambuwal and his counterpart from Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed. Both men were presidential aspirants, as well as, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen

On Thursday and Friday preceding the convention, it was already clear that some of the Northern presidential aspirants would step down for Abubakar. Whereas, the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike was seen as buying delegates, Atiku and the northern establishment were plotting how presidential aspirants would step down for the chosen one.

The calculation was that the Sokoto state governor should step down for Atiku to enable him focus on the Sokoto south senatorial seat. The incumbent senator, Senator Danbaba who sensed the hand writing on the wall had defected to the APC, to enable him face Tambuwal at the senatorial election.

The issue was when will the governor announce his stepping and it was agreed that it should be at the venue of the presidential nomination convention. The aim was that it will douse the already electrified support of Wike.

On the other hand, Bala Mohammed had refused to step down for Abubakar, insisting that he would fight to the end, which he did. However, he discretely asked his delegates to vote Atiku

Though, the investment banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen was prevailed upon to step down, he however chose to do it in his own way by blaming it on the excessive display of money by his fellow aspirants. He dropped his letter of resignation from the presidential race barely hours to the commencement of the convention.

The position of the PDP northern stakeholders was masterminded by the former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau and the former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa.

At the convention venue when all the presidential aspirants had spoken for the allotted five minutes, that they were allowed to speak to the delegates and the voting was about to commence, Tambuwal mounted the rostrum and there was complete silence. The environment was so quiet that one could have heard the drop of a pin.

Every one was anxious to hear what he wanted to say. The timing was perfect. This was because it dwarfed the noisy supporters of Wike who were still dancing and jubilating after his five minutes address to the delegates. Then, came the clincher, the Sokoto state governor picked the microphone and announced his withdrawal from the race.

He equally urged his supporters among the delegates to vote for the former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar. Many were surprised because Wike stood by him in 2018 when he contested and came second.

According to him. “Time has come for us to make sacrifices in the interest of our party and our nation. I have come to the conclusion that I have to step down

“Having consulted so many people across the country, the time has come to make the sacrifice for the good of the country and the party and also to minimize rancour and justle for power among aspirants. I have come to conclusion to step down from the race. I urge my supporters to vote for Atiku Abubakar.”

On his own part, Governor Bala Mohammed, though had refused to withdraw, sent words round to his coordinators that they should vote for Atiku.

That was all that was needed to break Wike’s supporters. At the convention, Wike was sure that he will carry the day. In fact, when he entered the indoor sports complex of the MKO Abiola Stadium, his supporters were uncontrollably noisy. The situation almost got out of hand, when he went round to acknowledge greetings from the delegates.