Strong signs point to former military leader General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) (rtd) into the turmoil roiling the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP (PDP).
According to information gathered, the former president of Nigeria would meet behind closed doors on Friday in Minna, the capital of Niger State, with the PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and the party’s disgruntled G-5 governors.
The gathering comes just three days after IBB hosted Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his crew at his hilltop home in Minna, the presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to some sources, a former senior military intelligence officer and some North interest groups that supported the Atiku Presidency may have been the driving forces behind the latest effort at reconciliation that leveraged IBB’s outreach.
In a related development, Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State and the leader of the G-5, is credited with saying during a press conference in Bauchi State a few days ago that the group is still open to reconciliation. The PDP presidential candidate has responded to this claim.
In a press statement tilted, ‘Atiku Welcomes Wike Camp’s Peace Overtures’ signed by Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, made available on Friday, he said the former Vice President of Nigeria welcomed reports that Governor Wike and his group were favourably disposed to the resolution of the issues with him.
“Atiku Abubakar also expresses his commitment to a negotiation that will resolve the crisis of confidence and pave the way for a much stronger and united PDP.
“The former Vice President of Nigeria notes that never at any time of the differences that has ensued has the doors been shut to Governor Wike and his group.
“He enjoins every leader of the party and their supporters irrespective of their leanings to be open-minded and support the process of resolution of the extant issues,” Ibe stated.
Recall that the PDP G-5 has been at loggerheads with Atiku and the PDP leadership since the emergence of the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, over the continued stay of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the party’s national chairman.
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