By 
…Says Ayu collected N1bn to work for Atiku
…Accuses Ayu, Atiku of arrogance
– Abiodun
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Friday spilt the beans alleging the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu collected N1 billion during the party’s presidential primary to manipulate the election in favour of Atiku Abubakar.
Wike, at an explosive news conference on Friday, said, “He manipulated the delegates. There was nothing Ayu did not do to ensure Wike didn’t emerge. Ayu is corrupt. Quote me. I am a lawyer and I am the governor of Rivers State. Ayu collected N1 billion in Lagos.
“He told one of the PDP presidential aspirants before the primary that the governors were not ready to fund the party.
“I know how the money was arranged and those involved in packaging the money. He collected the N1 billion. Let him come out to tell Nigerians it is not true and I will reveal more,” he stated.
Wike also disclosed that the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu wooed him to join the ruling party with a senatorial ticket, which he turned down.
“I didn’t contest so I can become a vice presidential candidate, I am not like others who were not serious and bought senatorial form alongside presidential form and that’s why when Tinubu offered me senate slot, I didn’t go for it,’’ he said.
The governor said asides Tinubu, he was approached by other political parties, which included Labour Party as they all knew his worth.
Meanwhile, both the Presidential Candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar and National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, have been accused of arrogance in actions and conducts, thereby deepening crisis in party ahead of elections.
According to Wike, despite the persistent calls by his camp that Ayu should resign and honour their earlier pledge that since Atiku had won, he would resign to pave way for equity and inclusiveness in the party, Atiku and Ayu refused to honour their pledge.
He argued that Atiku and Ayu were not serious about winning the 2023 election with the crisis they had created.
He regretted that the All Progressives Congress, APC, which the PDP wanted to upstage kept to their zoning arrangements and zoned their presidential position to the Southern part of Nigeria, while the reverse was the case for his party.
Wike said Prince Uche Secondus, a Southerner was removed as National Chairman from the party based on the agreement of the Southern Governors that the presidential candidate should come from to the South, while the National Chairmanship position should come from the North.
“We warned that that if this agreement is not adhered to, the problem will resonate and cause crisis. In 2019 we agreed that the presidency should come from the North but we lost. No state contributed more than Rivers. Ahead of the primaries, they said we should throw away zoning, that the best candidate should win. Suddenly, they started selling forms” he said.
He described as an unfortunate scenario and lack of seriousness where a national chairman, presidential candidate and the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign came from the North.
”I won’t conclude that Atiku and Ayu are not trustworthy now. But Nigerians are watching if they show integrity. You don’t say because Nigerians are not happy with the APC government, so we do and behave anyhow”.
Comments