By Damola Emmanuel
If not for the love of this party, if we release what we have, Ayu’s children will go to him and say we are no longer your children.
Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has once again slammed the national Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu, as a corrupt leader.
In a media chat broadcast live by some major television networks from Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, on Friday, the governor accused Ayu of collecting N100 million bribe from a governor.
The accusation came on the heels of another salacious one he made in a similar media chat some time ago where he accused the PDP chairman of having taken a N1billion bribe from an undisclosed source.
“In fact, let me also tell you; Ayu collected N100 million bribe from a governor,” Wike declared during the media chat.
“If not for the love of this party, if we release what we have, Ayu’s children will go to him and say we are no longer your children.”
When the interviewers asked him to name the governor, Wike bluntly refused but instead dared Ayu to deny the allegation. He also did not say where, when and why Ayu collected the alleged bribe.
Rather, he doubled-down on his claims, threatening to spill more beans should the embattled PDP chairman do a rebuttal.
Wike also commented on the money returned by some members of the PDP National Working Committee and the party’s defence that the money was approved.
“Let them show the minutes where it was approved,” Wike retorted. “My problem in this country is the way our people are being deceived. When these politicians come out, whatever they tell you, you to hop here and there.
“You made over N14 billion. They say we are going for election. Ask them. The election that took place in a sitting room. How much did the party spend? Ask them!”
The Crest recalls that late September, at least four members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the PDP returned over N120 million to the party’s coffers.
The PDP leaders said the money, which ranged from N28 million to N36 million per person, was paid into the affected members’ accounts, was tagged “housing allowance” or “house rent.”
But in separate letters addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu, the four members said they decided to return the money sequel to the barrage of criticisms, especially by the media, accusing them of receiving bribe.
The NWC members who returned the money were the National Vice Chairman (South-West) Olasoji Adagunodo, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; the National Vice Chairman (South), Dan Orbih and the National Women Leader, Stella Affah-Attoe. And while Mr Arapaja got N36 million, Messrs Adagunodo and Orbih and Ms Effah-Attoe got N28.8 million each.