I Never Collected N1bn From Anybody – Ayu Replies Wike

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, has denied collecting the sum of N1 billion from an unnamed politician in Lagos.

Naija News reports that Wike had in a media chat last month accused the PDP national chairman of collecting the sum of N1 billion from an unnamed politician in Lagos.

He, however, threatened to reveal the identity of the person who gave Ayu the money if the PDP chairman dare to deny the allegation.

In a chat with journalists on Friday, Ayu refuted the claim made by Wike that he collected any money from a politician, asking the Rivers governor to name the person.

The PDP chairman stated that the party remained transparent in its financial dealings and that it would not renege on its promise to present its audited account to party members and the public by December.

Ayu said he decided to be quiet for peace to reign in the party, adding that he will not tolerate anyone trying to malign his character and that of his family.

He, however, appealed to aggrieved people to desist from bringing my family into party affairs.

Ayu said: “When my BoT chairman talks, I am not supposed to say anything more. But since these allegations have persisted, I want to use this opportunity to clear the air. When the first allegation was made about the N1bn, I decided not to respond because we don’t want to cause altercations in the party.

“However, I want to make it clear that at no time did I, as the national chairman of this party, collect any N1bn from anybody.

“So, I state that I never collected N1bn from anybody. Also, the N100m that was donated by one of the governors has been judiciously used for the purpose (for which) it was given. In the next few weeks, we will be inviting all party leaders, including members of the press, for the inauguration of the PDI.

“When we came in and the party had funding difficulties, the current presidential candidate suggested that the party should take a loan of N1bn from a bank. The owner of that bank was also an influential member of this party. He has left the party now.

“When we discussed it with him, we discarded the idea and the party never took any loan or any money from anybody. I, as a person, never collected N1bn from anybody. Any money advanced to the party was declared before the National Working Committee and handed over to the national treasurer of the party.”