PDP crisis: Ayu slams Wike, says I won’t step down as chair

From Zahraddeen Yakubu Shuaibu (Kano), Baba Martins (Abuja) & Mohammed Ibrahim Yaba (Kaduna)

• Retired generals after me – Rivers gov

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, yesterday slammed Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, saying he will not step down.

There have been calls by the camp of the Rivers State governor that Ayu should step down as national chairman to balance the equation in the party. The crisis rocking the party revolves around Wike, who came second during the presidential primary of the party.

In an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, Ayu said those calling for his resignation were kidding themselves.

“I was voted as PDP chairman for a four-year tenure and I’m yet to complete a year. Atiku’s victory  doesn’t affect the chairman’s position. I won my election based on our party’s constitution.                                          

“I didn’t commit any offense; I’m only reforming the party so I’m not bothered with all the noises. I know I’m doing my work and I didn’t steal any money so I see no reason for all these talks.

“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 destabilize our party,” he said

Meanwhile, Wike yesterday said some retired military generals have threatened to use their Central Intelligence Agency of America (CIA) contacts to deal with him if he did not do their bidding.

Wike, who spoke in Port Harcourt, described as unfortunate the inability of the retired generals to use their contacts with the CIA to solve the Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

“Some people threatened that they are former generals, they are close to the CIA in America and they can deal with us. I said listen, no problem. If you are close to America CIA, why don’t you use it to solve Boko Haram problem? Nigeria has a serious problem and you are close to CIA, you know them as former generals, why not use that contact to solve Nigeria’s problem,” he said.

He also said if President Muhammadu Buhari fulfils his pledge not to interfere with the conduct of the 2023 general elections, the All Progressives Congress will be doomed.

Also yesterday, the PDP expressed optimism that it would coast to victory in the 2023 general elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said the “current mass exodus from the APC into the PDP as being witnessed in most states, including President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina, highpoints the consensus by Nigerians that the APC has irredeemably failed and that the PDP remains the only vehicle to rescue and rebuild the country from the misrule of the APC.”