Why Picking Okowa as Running Mate was a Difficult Decision for Atiku

Why Picking Okowa as Running Mate was a Difficult Decision for Atiku

…Wike’s Many Troubles within the PDP Family …Okowa’s Loyalty and Consistent Support for Atiku … Wike will not Feel Disappointed – Okowa. Going against the grain of popular opinion, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar announced Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate in the 2023 general

…Wike’s Many Troubles within the PDP Family

…Okowa’s Loyalty and Consistent Support for Atiku

… Wike will not Feel Disappointed – Okowa.

Going against the grain of popular opinion, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar announced Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate in the 2023 general election saying: “It is a difficult decision that I am called upon to take”.

Three persons were nominated to the candidate to pick his choice according Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Chairman of the PDP a statement confirmed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his unveiling speech, when he said “every one of the recommended persons is a fit and proper individual to hold this office. While this makes me marvel at the bundle of talents that abounds in our Party, it also compounded my task of choosing a single person from among them”.

The selection of Governor Okowa was mired in high-wired politics as a committee of 19 persons put together to advise the party and the candidate on the choice of a running mate had in a majority 16 to 3 voted for Governor Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers state who was the runner-up to Atiku Abubakar in the PDP presidential primaries.

But, explaining reasons behind his choice, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said he borrowed a leaf from the United States of America (USA) where “a running mate is used to balance the ticket, complement the candidate and, after victory, assist the President with governance”. Governor Okowa comes from the Ika region of Delta state which is Igbo speaking. This is believed could give a soft-landing for Atiku Abubakar’s acceptance in the South East.

Insiders and political pundits have, however, opined that the recommendation of Governor Wike (who is perceived as a rugged fighter and more suitable by the ranks and file of the party), may have been jettisoned by the PDP’s candidate because of the several baggages he may put as a burden on the ticket and make some persons to distant themselves from the ticket instead of working hard for its success at the polls.

It is alleged that two of PDP Governors – Prof Ben Ayade and Engr Dave Umahi – who defected to the APC were said to have done so because of Governor Wike’s over-domineering attitude and tight grip and domination of the Party which sometimes make others to be irrelevant because their views do not to count.

Some serving Governors of the PDP from the South South geo-political zone are allegedly said not to be comfortable with the choice of Governor Wike. It is open secret that there’s no love lost between Governors Wike and Obaseki. In the count down to the presidential primary election, while campaigning round the states, Governor Wike did not pay a courtesy visit to Governor Obaseki of Edo state contrary to what he had done elsewhere including in states controlled by the opposition APC.

There is also the Uche Secondus factor: as former Chairman of the PDP, he believed Governor Wike was responsible for his travails and eventual removal. Interestingly, Uche Secondus was one of the early persons who congratulated Okowa for his selection. The same goes for Governor Obaseki of Edo State.

Again, for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, loyalty rather than expediency may have played an important role in his final decision. He, perhaps, could not trust Wike as his deputy as much as Okowa. The reasons are not far-fetched. Twice, he had contested to be the PDP’s presidential candidate but was stridently opposed by Governor Wike on the two occasions. In the 2018 primaries, Governor Wike supported Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state against Atiku Abubakar. And, in 2022, Wike was the strongest opponent to Atiku Abubakar and not only campaigned against him, but threw political jabs such as that he abandoned the Party and travelled out of the country after losing the 2019 election.

Conversely, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa consistently stood in support of Atiku Abubakar. In addition, he is believed to be a fence-mender with a soft mien, yet holding on to strong principles. Twice, he had chaired PDP’s electoral conventions and he did not only show his organizational skills and abilities but conducted the activities transparently without displaying partisanship to the admiration and commendation of Party members.

Governor Okowa also comes with a diverse experience that could help the PDP presidential ticket, having started his political career as a Secretary to Local Government; Chairman of Local government; State commissioner twice; Secretary to the Delta State government; Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Executive Governor of Delta State, he is believed to be adequately qualified and competent to hold the office of Vice President. He is well read and a Medical Doctor by training and career before veering into politics.

It is yet to be seen how the PDP will manage the fallouts from the selection of Governor Okowa as the running mate to Atiku. Though Governor Okowa had said in his acceptance speech that he believes Governor Wike will accept his selection in good faith and not be disappointed. The next few weeks will however, reveal how true this is. As at the time of this report, Governor Wike is yet to speak neither has he issued a congratulatory message. It is being speculated that Governor Wike may be offered the position of Director General of the Atiku-Okowa presidential campaign.


Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s Speech at the Unveiling of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as His Running Mate for 2023 Election

Let me begin by, once more, commending our great Party for organizing and concluding, arguably, the best and rancour-free Convention, which produced me as our flag-bearer for the next year’s Presidential Election.

Once more, I commend my fellow aspirants in that contest. I thank them for their sportsmanship. They put up spirited fights because they cared and care for our country. I have personally gone around to thank them and to seek their cooperation for the struggle ahead.

Party unity is critical not only for us to prosecute a winning campaign but also to provide good governance that our country seriously deserves and our people earnestly yearn for. The task of winning the coming elections will be a tough one and we must not take anything for granted.

With the convention behind us, we have arrived at the stage for me to pick a Running Mate because this is a joint ticket. I am very happy to announce today that I have reached a decision on that.

In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our Governors, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.

In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a President-in-waiting.

In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless APC government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.

The person must appreciate the critical importance of education in the development of modern societies so we can prepare our young people to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive and globalized world.

My running mate must understand that without security, development will be very difficult because local and foreign investors who have been scared away already, would not return to invest in our economy. Thus, my running mate will be a person who will stand by me as I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land.

As you know, the APC government went to sleep as huge swathes of our country’s territory fell into the deadly hands of gangs of criminals, including those masquerading as freedom fighters or pastoralists, while our farmers and genuine pastoralists are unable to go about their businesses. The costs in precious human lives and properties have been enormous. My running mate must also not only symbolize the imperative of reuniting our country but also be able to work with me to achieve that objective. This is because a united Nigeria is a potentially stronger, more prosperous, and more secure country able to lead Africa and give hope to the Black race.

In addition, my Running Mate has to be someone who is not afraid to speak his mind and give honest advice, and, be by my side as I work very hard to reverse the destructive impact of the past seven years of the APC government.

In the United States of America from where we borrowed key aspects of our current Presidential system, a running mate is used to balance the ticket, complement the candidate and, after victory, assist the President with governance. Sometimes a candidate is chosen who generates a buzz and adds huge excitement to the campaign.

But today in Nigeria, we face huge challenges which leave us little room for drama. We have to win the elections and get to work immediately. My running mate has to be ready to start working with me, from day one, in addressing our country’s challenges. Nigerians will not accept anything less. That is why I promised the Governors of our party that my running mate will come from among them. Our current challenges call for a government that is highly focused and disciplined.

I have sought for the support, guidance, and counsel of the PDP in selecting a befitting Running Mate who meets all or most of the qualities enumerated above. The wisemen and sages of the Party, put together by our NWC, have gone fishing and brought home an enviable group of awesome politicians that surpasses these qualities. Every one of the recommended persons is a fit and proper individual to hold this office. While this makes me marvel at the bundle of talents that abounds in our Party, it also compounded my task of choosing a single person from among them.

Let me therefore pay tribute to my Party and, most especially, to all those that made the shortlist that must now be narrowed down to a single person. They are all dedicated party-men suitable for this task. I wish all the recommended persons could be announced today as my Running Mates. Unfortunately, only one MUST be chosen.

It is a difficult decision that I am called upon to take. But, as someone hoping to lead a complex country such as ours, tough and difficult decisions would remain a part of my everyday life.

Let me, therefore, start this momentous journey with a crucial decision about who, among the eminently qualified shortlist, would be my Running Mate.

Accordingly, let me state that the person I have chosen as my Running Mate possesses all those identified qualities. He personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and deserve. He is a serving State Governor who has demonstrated, in his State and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people.

I know that he will not only add excitement to our already energized ticket and campaign, but will also help to bring focus, discipline and stability to our government, come 2023. I am pleased, therefore, to announce here my choice of Running Mate who will help to lead us to victory next year not only in the Presidential election but also in the governorship and legislative elections. And he will be by my side as I work hard every day to provide our people with security, revive our economy, improve education and unite our country. He has both Legislative and Executive experiences. Please join me in welcoming to the ticket the next Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.

You know him to be a fighter; you know him to care about winning; you know him to care about good governance; and you know him to care about our people. Now, my dear friends, let’s do the disciplined hard work necessary to win this election. Let’s go. Thank very much.

Ayo Aluko-Olokun
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