Hard fighting Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has taken his battle with the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorcha Ayu to a feisty level, with fresh damming allegations.
Wike, in a live media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital on Friday, fired fresh shots at the PDP boss, insisting that he lacks the integrity to lead the party.
The Rivers helmsman, who has been at daggers drawn with Ayu since the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate of the party, alleged that the PDP chairman also received double pay for a single project.
He said, “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.”
Ayu’s insistence on remaining on the seat has deepened crisis in the PDP. Other governors backing Wike are Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
Wike continued, “Let Ayu say he did not collect N1 billion. In fact, let me also tell you, Ayu collected N100 million naira 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 naira 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 a presenting a man (Ayu) who lacked integrity as chairman of the party. 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.”
