Atiku must work with Wike to win presidential election, says Jonah Jang

Jonah Jang, former governor of Plateau state, has asked Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to reconcile with Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state.

The former governor, who is an ally of Wike, spoke on Saturday at the inauguration of the construction of roads in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers.

According to Jang, it is necessary for Atiku to mend fences with Wike if he must win the 2023 presidential election.

Wike lost PDP’s presidential ticket to the former vice-president.

“When this party was in trouble, you virtually with the help of some of us was able to rescue this party right at the Supreme Court of Nigeria and 90 percent if not more of how we brought this party back was your doing. You have kept faith with this party,” Jang said.

“You have supported everything that has made PDP what it is today. But I want to plead with you, don’t give up. God has something for you.

“I want to call on our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to close ranks with all members, particularly members of your (Wike) group of which I’m proudly one. Doing this will guarantee victory in the 2023 general elections.

“These men and women, as I have said, worked hard to build this party to what it is and they cannot just be wished away overnight. We need to come together, and settle our differences by recognising that you need every one of us for you to win the general election.

Jang commended Wike for the infrastructural projects in the state, noting that the governor is keeping faith with the promise he made to the people.

“At this point, in our nationhood, Nigeria is down with inflation that rates over 18 percent. Foreign reserves are dwindling by the day, and external debts are high,” he said.

“We have no infrastructure to show for it. No commensurate economic growth. But here we are, On the 20th day of August 2022, in the Peoples Democratic Party administration in River State, celebrating good governance in the twilight of his (Wike) this administration. You keeping faith with the people by flagging off the construction of Omagwa internal roads in Ikwerre local government. This is unprecedented.”