An aspirant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairmanship position, Engr. Conrad Utaan, has described former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as an asset to the party, saying Wike’s contributions to the PDP’s growth and development shouldn’t be ignored.

He also vowed to reconcile the lingering feud between Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, and Wike, who is currently serving as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, if chosen as the party’s chairman.

Utaan faulted comments made by the leader of the Ijaw nation, Chief Edwin Clark, and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State on the political crisis in Rivers State.

While Clark had called for a probe into the alleged anti-party activities of Wike over the political crisis rocking Rivers State, Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, said the comment by the minister, calling on PDP governors to stop interfering in the party’s matters in Rivers State, was made in frustration.

Rivers State has been embroiled in crisis after a strained relationship between Fubara and Wike, Fubara’s erstwhile political godfather and former governor of the state.

The bone of contention is who controls the PDP structures in the state.

Wike, a member of the PDP, currently serves as FCT Minister under President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

At the height of the crisis last year, 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly dumped the PDP for the APC. The lawmakers, led by the Speaker, are loyal to Wike and accused Governor Fubara of starving them of funds.

Recently, in an interview, Wike accused Fubara of ingratitude and attempting to dismantle the political structure that brought him to power, and vowed not to support Fubara in his political endeavours anymore.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Utaan stressed that reconciliation and peace can only be achieved through justice and respect for all members.

Utaan, who contested the House of Representatives seat for Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency under the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2011 election, said the Rivers State crisis is an internal party issue and should have been resolved at that level, adding, “I would stoop to the lowest level, even if it means going on my knees to bring about peace.”

Noting that there is no level he would consider too condescending to pursue peace, conciliation, and unity in the PDP, he said: “Like I said in my press text, the reconciliation of members of the party and bringing about unity is the only objective that I seek to hold in the small time of about a year or more that I will be national chairman.

“You cannot preach reconciliation and peace without justice. Wike, the former governor of Rivers State and the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is an asset to the PDP. Immediately after the last election, when people were junketing around the world, going to Dubai and America, Wike stayed back and kept the party together. It is only fair that he should be accorded the respect by both the leadership and membership of the PDP, and not be castigated.

“The issue of Rivers is an internal party issue between the members of PDP in Rivers State, and it can be resolved at that level. That’s why it is quite unfortunate when you hear comments from the governor of Bauchi State or governor of wherever, and of course, a very respected elder statesman like Edwin Clark, making very derogatory remarks about the issues in Rivers. It is quite unfortunate. It is an internal problem that can only be solved internally by the people that are concerned.

“This is an issue between a political godfather and a political godson, and they will come to the table at the right time. And that is why I would stoop to the lowest level, even if it means going on my knees to bring about peace, not only in Rivers but across the country, as far as PDP is concerned.”

Utaan, who is pushing to complete the tenure of the suspended chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, said it is only rational for someone from his state and zone to complete his tenure.

He argued that the provisions of the Constitution of the party outlined that a replacement for an ousted official be made from his area, noting that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party would take a decision on that, adding, “As a loyal party man, my ambition is still subject to the decision of the party’s leadership as will be taken by NEC.”

According to him, until Ayu’s tenure ends in October 2025, we are going to continue to push for the chairmanship zone.

He added: “If NEC in its wisdom interprets the laws of the party to the effect that the current Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun, should continue with the good work he and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are doing, I will accept the decision in good faith and continue to give maximum support to the party as a loyal faithful.

“But if NEC, on the other hand, decides that someone from the North-Central should see out the tenure of the current NWC as National Chairman, then I am of the firm belief that no other person will be best suited to discharge that responsibility than my humble self.

“The rationale for ceding the position to the North-Central will have to be applied right down to the Benue situation and given to the Benue North-West (Zone ‘B’) Senatorial District where Dr. Ayu hails from. It will be a gross negation of the principle supporting the ceding of the position to North-Central should anyone outside of Zone ‘B’ take the position. It will be a miscarriage of justice, which will be unacceptable to the people of that zone,” he stated.