2023: I’ve met Wike 5 times on PDP crisis – Atiku

• Atiku Abubakar stated that he has met with Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike 5 times, so as to douse the fire of crisis amongst the PDP leadership

• The former vice-president also lamented on why Boko Haram is still at large, despite efforts from the Nigerian Army in eradicating them

Ahead of the 2023 general election, The Presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Alh. Atiku Abubakar said contrary to insinuations in some quarters, he had met with Governor Nyesom Wike five times in attempts to settle the crisis within the party leaders.

And that he is now waiting for “the other side”.

Atiku made the revelation at Channels TV town hall meeting on Sunday.

The former vice-president equally condemed he May 13 lynching of Deborah Samuel by religious extremists in a school in Sokoto, for alleged blasphemy.

Atiku also explained why he deleted a tweet on the matter a day later.

On the PDP crisis, he said contrary to speculations in some quarters, he had held no less than five face-to-face meetings with Wike.

“I have met with Wike two times in Abuja, two times in Port Harcourt and once in London personally,” Atiku explained.

Atiku absolved himself of blame that the issues were yet to be amicably resolved, saying he was still waiting for “the other side”.

Atiku on Boko Haram

Meanwhile, Atiku also said he did not understand the Boko Haram phenomenon, lamenting that despite the efforts of the Nigerian Army, the insurgency had not been eliminated.

The former vice president stated this on Sunday during the People’s Town Hall 2023 series aired on Channels TV.

Atiku, who was present with his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, responded to questions on insecurity and was asked about his position on Boko Haram.

He said, “I still cannot understand why we should have Boko Haram. You see, I served in Borno State when it was in the North-East, and as a Customs officer and I was patrolling the entire North-East, so I am very conversant with the vegetation and with the border areas. I still cannot find a place in the Borno areas where anybody can hide and cannot be seen. I cannot understand honestly, the Boko Haram phenomenon.

“Sometimes when returning from Europe, 30 feet above, I could see a man walking in Borno State, so where is the place to hide? To the extent that they say there is a place called Sambisa forest. I have been there. I didn’t see a forest. It is just shrubs here and there.

“So we have deployed the Nigerian military which used to be one of the best in the world. They have fought, you know, a number of the international arena and they have excelled and here we have deployed them with their might and everything and we just could not eliminate Boko Haram. So I am puzzled. So maybe when I get there, I will understand, but honestly, I cannot understand the Boko Haram phenomenon.

“Everything is there. Politics is there, business is there, security, everything. Of course, the solution is leadership, strong leadership to deal with all these interest groups within the military and outside the military.”