In what appears to be another crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike and chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jubrin are at daggers drawn over the ‘illegal’ emergence of Ndudi Elemelu as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
Senator Jubrin has challenged the Governor Wike to come out with evidence of corruption against the Senator Iyorchia Ayu committee investigating the minority leadership of the House.
The Rivers state governor Wednesday said: “We are warning the PDP to be careful not to toy with Rivers state. Rivers state has all it takes to withstand the PDP and fight the party to a standstill. The Rivers state governor is not one of those governors that anyone can cajole.
“The Rivers state governor is not one of those governors that will kowtow to their illicit activities. The committee set up by the PDP on the illegal emergence of Ndudi Elumelu is the most corrupt committee ever set up by the party.”
Reacting, Jubrin in a chat with journalists in Abuja, challenged anybody with proof of any allegations of corruption to provide them, insisting: “He who alleges must show evidence of corruption.
“It is not enough to accuse anyone of any wrong doing. I call on anyone, both party and non party members to come forward with evidence of corruption and you will see what the BoT will do.”
Jubrin said he has not been officially communicated why Okpara, who is secretary of the committee resigned, disclosing that it was when the report of the committee was submitted that he noticed that he did not sign the document.
“He did not write or tell me why he left or did not sign after the submission of their work. As far as I’m concerned, I will leave that for discussion next Thursday when the BoT will meet.
“Since the inauguration of the committee, I have not spoken to them, I have not visited or interfered with their work or given any input in the course of their work.
“But I will not condemn any member of the committee without any proof of evidence of corruption,” he said.
He called on any aggrieved member of the party to follow the due process to address his or her perceived grievances.
Jubrin stated that as the chairman of the BoT he would not take side, noting that the board remains the consciousness of the party.
“We should be concerned with how to move the party forward and the party strong,” he said.
