The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said that the plot of five aggrieved governors of the party to adopt the presidential candidates of other political parties will not change the decision of God on the 2023 general elections.
Atiku who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, while reacting to the London meeting of Governor Nyesom Wike led G-5 Governors comprising of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), to endorse a Southern candidate instead of their party’s candidate.
Shaibu likened the former Vice President to an elephant, adding that even when he walked on thorns, it would not limp.
Since the emergency of Atiku as the presidential candidate of PDP, the aggrieved governors who had branded themselves as “integrity governors” have been on a warpath with their party leadership, more especially after the nomination of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as vice presidential candidate of Atiku.
The G-5 governors, who are also insisting on the replacement of PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, with a Southerner as condition for peace, have continued to stay away from the party’s presidential campaign, and other party activities, while several efforts to resolve the crisis have been unsuccessful.
Earlier, in the week, there were reports that the aggrieved governors, had gone to London for a meeting, to adopt either the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi or Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) for the 2023 polls.
However, Atiku, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said any person boasting of having such powers to stop his presidential bid, should first make himself president.
Authentic quoted Shaibu as saying, “Atiku will be president. Whether the cock crows or not, the sun must rise. Power belongs to God Almighty; no man can arrogate to himself the powers of God Almighty. Any man who can boast of stopping Atiku should first make himself president of Nigeria.
“Atiku is an elephant. Even when an elephant walks on thorns, it does not limp. And when you have seen a snake, it cannot bite you anymore. In this case, we have seen the snake, how can we be taken by surprise?”
Shaibu, however, noted that his principal would not be surprised by whatever action the G-5 governors decided to take.
