I have many faults – PDP Chairman, Ayu knocks himself

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu on Friday acknowledged that he has many faults.

Ayu who has been witnessing a series of opposition over his current position in the PDP said though he is not completely righteous, stealing was not part of his lifestyle.

Naija News understands that Ayu said this to clear his name over allegations of misappropriating the party’s funds.

Recall that Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike recently alleged that Ayu collected a huge sum of money from a politician in Lagos State.

Wike who is currently at loggerheads with the PDP leadership and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, promised to share more details on his claim if Ayu ever denies collecting money from Lagos.

Ayu, however, in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday through his Special Adviser, Simon Imobo-Tswam, said he was elected to return PDP back to power; and not to loot or mismanage the party’s funds.

Ayu also pledged that the National Working Committee (NWC) under his leadership will publish the income and expenditure account in December.

I Will Present PDP’s Income And Expenditure To NWC In December

In an attempt to clear himself of the allegations of misappropriating funds, Ayu said he has instructed the Finance Department to maintain an update on the party’s income and expenditure account for presentation to the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at the first anniversary of the present NWC in December.

The PDP chairman said the party leadership under his watch is being guided by the principles of transparency and accountability.

“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.

“I have been a leader of the National Assembly. I have been a minister many times. As a person, I have many faults, but stealing is not one of them. I am conscious of my place in history, and the NWC that I lead is guided by the twin principles of transparency and accountability,” Ayu said.

Ayu added: “You may be reading many things and expecting my reaction. If we don’t always talk, it is because we want to maintain and build cohesion in the party. We don’t want continuous altercations in the PDP Family. Our eyes are on the big picture i.e. winning the 2023 general elections.

“Therefore, let us not lose focus. Let us keep our eyes glued on the big picture. Everything else is secondary. We took office because there was crisis in the party. And we don’t want to keep moving from crisis to crisis. It’s not good for the party. We can’t be in perpetual crises, especially where the crisis is artificial.

“The NWC met and discussed the issue of Housing Allowance. It was unanimously agreed that no bribe or any form of illegality took place. A statement has since been issued to that effect. The matter has now been laid to rest.”