The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has broken his silence over allegations of corruption and mismanagement of party funds.
Ayu said the allegations were unfounded because although as a human being he had his frailties, stealing or looting public funds was not one of them.
He spoke against the backdrop of allegations that housing allowances paid to members of the party’s National Working Committee were hush money to cover up malfeasance.
According to him, he took over the reins of the leadership of the party to restore its lost glory
and propel it back into office because the PDP was not designed to play Opposition politics but to win elections and provide purposeful leadership for the country.
Ayu spoke while welcoming the Forum of Elected Ex-Officio Members of the party who paid him a solidarity visit at the PDP National Headquarters, on Friday.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Communications), Simon Imobo-Tswam.
Ayu also revealed
that he has instructed the Finance Department to maintain and update the party’s income and expenditure account for presentation to the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at the first-year anniversary of the present NWC in December.
Ayu said although he has many faults as a human being, stealing was not one of them, adding that the present NWC is being guided by the principles of transparency and accountability.
The party chairman said, “The PDP was not founded to be in opposition. We founded the party to access power and develop the country. And my historic task is to return the party to power. I won’t be Chairman forever. For now, my preoccupation is to return the Party to power. I did not come to steal. My public service record is there.