PDP National Chairman, former senator Iyorchia Ayu, has disclosed that he had the opportunity to stop those seeking for his removal from realizing their political aspirations ahead of the 2023 General Election but however chose not to do so.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned Ayu said this while addressing his kinsmen at his residence in Gboko , Benue state at the weekend.
Ayu reassured his kinsmen that there was no cause for concern with regard to the calls for his removal by some PDP governors including the governor of Benue state, Mr Samuel Ortom.
‘The PDP is one and not divided. I am trying my best not to disappoint Benue state people and Nigerians in general. So if you hear that they want to chase Ayu out as national chairman, don’t be worried; nobody is going to sack me as national chairman of our party. I will leave the seat at a day that God permits’ he said.
Ayu specifically thanked his kinsmen for giving him ‘home support’ since he ventured into politics three decades ago.
‘Since I started politics in the last 30 years, Gboko has not rejected me, you are always supporting me. They say a prophet has no respect in his home, but my case is different I am overwhelmed by this great show of love. Nothing should worry you my people.
So nobody should try to bring any trouble to you. I am telling you today, PDP is one party, a party that has divisions does not win elections. No matter the strength of any party, if it does not have unity, it will lose elections’ he said.
The former senate president added that he had the opportunity to deal with those calling for his removal but decided not to do this in order not to rock the boat.
‘I have been silent over all the things you are hearing against me because I don’t want any crack in the party I belong in my state. I have the powers to say you and you will not go anywhere because I will insist that I must sign before you go anywhere.
But I have signed for all candidates produced by the PDP to go ahead with their aspirations, whether I liked it or not I signed. So I was doing that believing that I cannot shoot myself in the leg.
I want Benue to come first by winning all elections so that Nigerians will say that the national chairman has delivered his state to PDP with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar winning 90 percent of the votes and Titus Uba as governor in 2023’ he added.
Ayu also submitted that only God enthrones a leader and uses people to enthrone a person over others and also ensures that He protects such a person.
‘I want to assure you that all these days, God has been protecting me even when I went on sick leave abroad, God was still protecting me.
The Tiv people have suffered so much in this country. We are yet to get our share of the national cake, so my charge to you is not to relent prayers so that this time around in 2023, God will give us a president who will work closely with the Governor of our state to wipe away our tears.
During the senator J S Tarka’s era, God gave us a Fulani man, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, did he fight the Tiv nation? Did he kill our people? He appointed 5 ministers from Benue state and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Chaha, Paul Unongo (Minister of steel), Isaac Shaahu (Minister of Communications), Mrs. Elizabeth Ivase (Education Minister) and Audu Ogbeh etc was he not a Fulani man?
Another Fulani man, Yar Adua appointed a Tiv man, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa as his Minister of Justice.
Today, the flagbearer of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, who is not only a chieftaincy title holder of the Tiv people as the Zege Mule U the Tiv, he is my friend, he told me his plans for the Tiv nation. That he will wipe away the tears of the people’ he said.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and some PDP governors including Governor Seyi Makinde and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state had for about five months now insisted that Ayu must quit and allow the emergence of a new face as National Chairman of the party.
Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Wike had sought for the PDP presidential nomination but lost this to Atiku in the presidential primary election held at the Eagle Square, Abuja in May.
The Rivers state governor had later sought to get named as Vice Presidential candidate but Atiku eventually chose Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, a development that got Wike incensed.
Defection rumours had since then swirled around Wike and the separate meetings he had held with LP and APC bigwigs had accentuated the insinuations that he was planning to say ‘To your tents, O Israel‘ to the PDP.
He had however not only remained in the PDP but himself and members of his group had also ceaselessly voiced their opposition to Ayu’s continued stay in office- Team@orientactualmags.com
Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
