The National Chairman of People’s Democratic (PDP), Ali Modu Sheriff has accused the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike of giving former President Goodluck Jonathan N50 million to organise the recent stakeholders meeting in Abuja.
Sheriff who spoke through his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh at a news conference at the party’s secretariat on Thursday, said Governors Wike and Fayose recruited the Jonathan into a fake peace effort pre-determined to scuttle ongoing peace initiative in the party.
“The result is that President Jonathan was lured into committing a serious breach of protocol that led to the failure of the exercise which was the intended outcome”, Sheriff said.
According to him, Wike and businessman, Chief Raymond Dokpesi have already established their own political party, adding that their mission was to tie the PDP down with undue controversies.
He further stated that the party was worried that the amount of money Wike was spending on the crisis could smear the image of the PDP
“This money belongs to the people of Rivers State and it should not be misappropriated at the expense of the people to whom it rightfully belonged.
“We therefore call on party leaders and Nigerians to refrain from accepting these monies from Governor Wike in line with the spirit of our founding fathers”, Sheriff added.
Sheriff restated his determination to go ahead with the plans to organise a convention for the party, saying preparations for a free and fair convention were in top gear.
Sheriff directed state chapter chairmen of the PDP to forward to the party secretariat the lists of all statutory delegates to the convention on or before April 27.
He added that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party would hold on May 3.