Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that the children of the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, will disown their father, if what he has done in the party is revealed.
Wike spoke on Friday, in a media chat in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, and revealed other allegations against the party’s National Chairman, saying he (Ayu) lacked integrity.
The Rivers governor, who has been at the centre of the demand for Ayu’s removal from office, also alleged that the PDP national chairman received N100 million bribe from a sitting governor.
He alleged that the PDP chairman also received double pay for a single project.
“If not for the love of this party, if people know what we know, if we release what we have, Ayu’s children will go to him and say we are no longer your children.”
When asked about the N1 billion he said Ayu allegedly collected and that there has been no reaction from the national chairman, Wike said, “There cannot be any comment. He (Ayu) cannot say anything. Look, I am the governor of Rivers State and I don’t just come out to speak.
“Let Ayu say he did not collect N1 billion. In fact, let me also tell you, Ayu collected N100 million from a governor that he was going to renovate our democratic institution and then, he (Ayu) went back to the PDP NWC and took the same N100 million for doing the same work.
“What kind of system is that? I am telling you all these are facts. Let him (Ayu) say no first and I will tell you (those he collected money from).”
Wike added: “A leader must be a man of integrity. And I have realised that people find it hard to have that (integrity) lately. You are presenting a man (Ayu) who lacked integrity as chairman of the party and somebody that wants to lead a campaign to take the reigns of government?
“What is the problem with what we are asking of Ayu? We are saying let there be equity, let there be fairness and justice. But, if you don’t want it that way then you are the one causing the crisis (in the party) and that shows you (Ayu) don’t have leadership skills because this is the time to show it. This is the time to show leadership skills on the part of those who are leaders of the party.”
Speaking on the money returned by some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), Wike alleged the money was not authorised by the party leadership.
Wike said: “Of course, let me tell you how the money came about. When it was discussed at the National Working Committee, Ayu said everybody should calm down and that Nigerians are interested, and that Nigerians will bring money to the party.
“I don’t want us to go deeper because I feel that we are not pushed to the wall (yet). If we are pushed to the wall, what the people will hear, will be something else.”
He continued: “Let them show the minutes of the meeting where it was approved. You made over N14 billion from PDP primaries and sale of forms and people are saying look, we are going in for an election. Ask them about the election that took place in Ekiti, how much did the party spend? Ask them.
“There are people who believe Ayu is my man, saying Ayu is protecting me. Look, what can Ayu do to me? What will he do? Can Ayu come and tell Rivers people where or who to vote? He doesn’t have the capacity to do that. So, why am I going to be afraid of him?
“What has Ayu done for me in my life for me to show gratitude? Rather, he should be grateful to me and other people. So, there is no basis for vindictiveness here or when people say you are after him because he is not with you and that is not the issue.
“If you cannot honour what you promise, how can you stand before Nigerians and ask for votes or say anything PDP tells you we will do it, when you have not even done the simple one you said?
“And we are trying to help the PDP to remove this burden from us and you are taking Nigerians for granted, saying don’t worry all these things will die down; die down where?
Governor Wike has called on the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to show leadership by taking action on the crisis rocking the party in the run-up to the 2023 general elections.
Wike said that the party’s fate in the coming election depends on the action Atiku decides to take as he insists on the resignation of Ayu as party chairman.
He said he won’t back down from his position that Ayu should resign, noting that those talking about the interest of the party should also realize that the PDP has always stood on zoning of positions.
“You’re denying my people their own right. Nobody should talk to me about the interest of the party. Those Southerners supporting Ayu are political hypocrites,’ he said, stressing that the party chairmanship after Ayu’s resignation should be given to any part of the South.
The governor noted that the call for Ayu’s resignation is because he lacks integrity and ought to have resigned after the presidential primary because Ayu had openly said that he would resign if the presidential ticket goes to the North.
He said: “I stand for equity, fairness and justice. That is what will take you to the right way. This is the time to show leadership skills. Atiku is the one that feels the pain. Why should you tell me that it is after the election that Ayu should leave?”
The government also accused Atiku of buying time in order to extend the crisis to December, stressing that the only concession he and the other four governors will make is to remain in the party.
“If I leave the party, PDP will not win in this state. If the five governors say today that we are leaving, forget all the noise people are making. We are very formidable as governors,” he said.
Wike also described as unfortunate the comment credited to Atiku that he has been “vindicated” for choosing Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate following the Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON honour President Muhammadu Buhari awarded him.
“It’s so unfortunate, because I was awarded the same honour of CON eight years ago. Why the comparison to say he has been vindicated,” he said.
