PDP crisis: Wike, Bode George battle Ayu over ‘children’ jibe

…Your comment shows you’re immature — PDP chieftain tells embattled Chair

…We will help PDP lose election — Wike threatens

By Uthman Salami

The crisis rocking the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to leave major cracks in the unity of the party, brewing tons of disuniting comments amongst several chieftains of the party.

The recent jibe by the Chairman of the party, Sen Iyorchia Ayu against those calling for his resignation ahead of the 2023 general elections as ‘children’ who knew nothing about the formation of the party.

The scathing remark has since received backlash from both Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike whose Ayu’s comments were directed at, as well as a chieftain of the party, Chief Bode George who described the Chairman’s comments as rather immature.

Both George and Rivers State Governor were reacting to the Chairman’s interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday.

Recall that Nigerian NewsDirect reported that the PDP chairman had insisted that he would not resign, adding that he would not allow people calling for his resignation to destroy PDP.

Ayu said, “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.

…Your comment shows you’re immature — PDP chieftain tells embattled Chair

George, in his reaction to the development on Thursday, said Ayu’s comments showed that he was immature and childish, asking him to watch his language thenceforth.

The former Deputy National Chairman said this during the commissioning of Omerelu Internal roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He said, “When a serving national chairman of our party is calling elected governors that they are children. Does he think that children don’t grow? Or is there a life perpetual to him? We need to watch our language. It shows to me that it is him who is immature.”

George asserted that Ayu should vacate his position for a Southerner to take over before the 2023 elections, adding that the tussle about the party’s chairmanship must be immediately resolved.

“We are not begging for it; we demand it because it is our right,” he said.

He argued that it is unfair that the PDP chairman; presidential candidate and PDP Board of Trustees Chairman are all from the North.

He said the right thing to do is for Ayu to vacate his seat before the campaign, as it will not be right to go into the campaign with a divided house.

George added that what Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is asking for is the right thing, in the interest of justice, peace and unity of the party.

…We will help PDP lose election —   Wike threatens

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor has threatened to help the Peoples Democratic Party lose the 2023 presidential election.

The Governor issued the threat at the commissioning of the internal road in Omerelu community in Ikwerre local government area of Rivers on Thursday.

He said, “Doctor Ayu said we are children. Yes, the children brought you from the gutter to make you Chairman.

“Now we have seen that you don’t want the party to win the election, we will help you.

“These children you said we are, that brought you from nothing.

“Ayu, you said you founded this party, but you left the party in 2007. You founded a company, you left the company, people stood and brought out the company to what it is today, you have no moral right to still come and claim that you founded that company, you left with your shares.

“You want to show integrity, you want to show a party to Nigeria that we want to take over, you must convince Nigerians that we have integrity.

“You are the driver that will drive the vehicle to convey us to our destination. That is the victory we are looking for.

“If the driver has no integrity and cannot show honesty, how do you convince Nigerians?

“If you tell Nigerians something and cannot do it, is it when you enter into power that you will do it?

“Nigerians have seen how ungrateful some of you can be, and that’s why Nigerians also want to be careful, if we give these people power, are you sure they will also be grateful to Nigerians.”