The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, says the fight to save the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has just begun following the suspension of National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, by his ward in Benue State.
Wike spoke during a project inauguration in Obio-Akpor LGA of Rivers on Monday, the same day that a judge in Benue State restrained Ayu from parading himself as national chairman of the party.
Recall that the Executive Committee of the PDP in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State had suspended Ayu with immediate effect.
In a resolution read by its secretary, Vanger Dooyum, the ward excos said Ayu’s anti-party activities – alongside his allies –contributed to the PDP’s loss in his ward and local government in the March 18 governorship election in the state.
Wike stated that it has now become unthinkable to allow any person who was unable to deliver his political unit, ward, local government or state to the PDP during the last general elections to preside over the party.
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The Rivers governor accused Ayu of collecting bribes which caused the PDP to experience colossal failure in the 2023 presidential and governorship elections in Benue and across the country.
“Ask them, those who want to be chairman of this party (PDP), what do you have to give to the party now? Presidential election; you took bribe, and lost in your unit, lost in your ward, lost in your local government and lost in your State. Which party will you preside over now?” Wike queried.
Wike said it was God who hardened Ayu’s heart not to resign when the G-5 governors and members of Integrity Group demanded his resignation after the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate.
He noted that if Ayu had resigned then, his cohorts who were vehemently opposed to the zoning of elective and appointive offices would have used that as an excuse for the party’s abysmal performance in the just concluded general elections.
The governor said it would be morally offensive for Ayu to remain as the national chairman of the PDP after the catastrophic defeat of the party under his watch in his unit, ward, local government, State and national.
According to him, the suspension of Ayu is the beginning of the fight to save the party.
“Those of you who are fighting that they have suspended him, you have not seen anything yet. The fight has started. Ayu, the fight has just started. If you know him, those of you who are close to him, tell him, Iyorchia Ayu, the fight has just started.”
Wike insisted that instead of Ayu using his position to strengthen the grip of PDP of Benue State, he allowed it slip off him.
According to the Rivers governor, other PDP-controlled states cannot sustain the party financially and tolerate him as their chairman.
“Will you preside over the one (Rivers PDP) I have secured victory for? You want to come and preside over this state (Rivers) so that we will begin to donate money to the party? You, bring your own state to the party too, so that your state can contribute money to the national. If you don’t deliver your State, you can’t preside over us. You cannot.”
Wike noted that some persons within the party were already thinking and acting to side with Ayu to fight back the suspension slammed on him.
He warned such persons that they would be doing so to their detriment because they would have consequences to face.
“Look at somebody who did anti-party, he is suspending people. The chief priest of anti-party, native doctor of anti-party suspending those who have worked hard for this party.
“All of you who are joining Ayu, be prepared. Now, I have no other job, the job I have now is to put more heat on them and I will continue to do that,” the Rivers governor said.
Wike pointed out the nullity of the purported summoning of members of the National Working Committee of PDP to Abuja to meet and pronounce the suspension as illegal.
“If you like, let the National Secretary rush to Abuja. Let them meet this afternoon and say the suspension is illegal, you will see what you will face. You are calling us small boys, you will see what small boys can do to you,” Wike said.
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