Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has berated the Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu over his comment on calls for his resignation.
Ayu, in an interview with BBC Hausa, had said that “children’ who didn’t know why the party was formed can’t be calling for his resignation.”
“I have not violated any rules; in fact, I am working to bring reforms to the party. I am truly not bothered by the unnecessary controversy being generated.
“When we started PDP, these children were not around. They are children who do not know why we formed the party. We will not allow any individual to destabilise our party,” he said.
Reacting to the comment, Wike, while speaking at the commissioning of a project in Ikwerre Local Government, described Ayu as a “greedy man who was only after his own selfish interests.”
The Governor added that when the party suffered in 2015, Ayu was a “prodigal father who was nowhere to be found.”
“Ayu was resurrected from the gutters to become the PDP national chairman. He was a nobody prior to attaining the position,” Wike said.
The governor explained that he had expected Senator Ayu, as chairman of the party, to unite all aggrieved members and galvanise them for the 2023 elections without division, so that PDP could clinch electoral victory. But instead of doing that, Senator Ayu has shown ingratitude by describing elected governors of States, who supported his quest as party chairman, as children.
“Dr. Ayu said we are children. Yes, the children brought you to be chairman of the party. The children brought you from the gutter and made you chairman. Ayu, you were impeached as Senate president. Ayu, were sacked by Obasanjo in his administration two times. Arrogance cannot take you anywhere. Now, we have seen that you don’t want the party to win election, we’ll help you.”
The governor dismissed the claim by Senator Ayu, who had said that is one of the founding members of the PDP. He emphasised that Senator Ayu abandoned the PDP at one time, moved to another party and therefore cannot have equal stakes with those who had stayed back to rebuild the party.
Governor Wike explained that Senator Ayu had, by self-volition, promised to relinquish his chairmanship as a northerner if an aspirant from the north eventually emerged as the presidential candidate of the PDP. The governor told Senator Ayu to be a man of honour and keep his promise by relinquishing that position.
He pointed out that if Senator Ayu carries on with his arrogance, the PDP governors he had described as children will make him know that he is a prodigal father.
“A man who is inconsistent and ran away from the party, telling those of us who spent our time, sleepless night to make sure this party does not go down we are children. Now, you have the temerity, the audacity to tell us we are children.
Also speaking at the event, a PDP chieftain, Bode George knocked Ayu over the comment, describing him as immature.
“Party members from the south are already feeling alienated. PDP is not a private company. So, before we start the presidential campaign at the end of this month, the National Chairman must go to the south. That is what Governor Wike is saying and as a life member of the Board of Trustees of our party, I support this position 100 percent.
“Statutorily, it is the National Chairman who hands over the party’s flag to our presidential candidate. How will party members from the South feel when they see that at all political rallies Southerners have no public political representation.”
Chief George maintained that this constitutes a fundamental flaw and lack of inclusiveness which will be diametrically opposed to the original thinking of the founding fathers of the PDP.
He urged party members to be united in their determination to ensure that the PDP returns to the Presidential villa in Abuja by May 29, 2023.
“But we can only go back to Aso Rock if we are united and not divided. Some people are abusing Governor Wike, he is a trouble shooter. Those abusing him, as an elder and as a father in this party, I am directing them, they must stop immediately.
“Because Governor Wike is only fighting for injustice, for equity, for fairness in our party. He is not only a strong pillar in this party, but a mobiliser, a financier and an actualizer.
“Since he joined the PDP, he has not left this party. Am also in a founding father of the party and since 1998 I have not left this party.”
“How can you call grown men “children” for demanding your resignation as chairman? Are you saying they should not grow?,” George asked.
The elderstatesman also backed Wike’s call for Ayu’s resignation, saying his continued refusal was causing an imbalance for the party.
“I am calling for an immediate resignation flof Ayu as PDP chairman. He should step down honourably because he had promised to do so if the party’s presidential candidate emerged from the North.
“His leadership is causing an imbalance within the party. How can both the chairman and presidential candidate be Northerners? He should do the honourable thing and resign immediately,” he said
Other dignitaries present at the event were the deputy governor of Rivers State, Mrs Ipalibo Banigo, Senator Olaka Nwogu, Chief Dan Orbih, Mrs Roli Bode-George and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa
