The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has thrown down the gauntlet at embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiorchia Ayu, following comments he made where he stated that he could stop certain members from running for office on the party’s platform.
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Ayu responded to the latest attacks on him by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom stating that he could thwart his senatorial ambition.
He made the comments when he addressed PDP supporters who welcomed him home in Gboko during the weekend.
Ayu who spoke in his native Tiv language said, “I have been silent over all the things you are hearing against me because I don’t want any crack in the party I belong in my state, I have the powers to say you and you will not go anywhere because I will insist that I must sign before you go anywhere.
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But in a swift response to Ayu’s comments, Wike speaking at his country home in Rumuepirikom Community in Obio-Akpor Council on Sunday, October 30, 2022, dared him to actualise his threat of stopping Ortom or any other member of the party from actualising their aspirations, warning him to “try it and see”.
He further slammed Ayu as ungrateful following his statement on the Benue governor, revealing that Ortom supported and pleaded for his emergence as National Chairman
He said, “I want to dare Ayu to stop any PDP candidate. He knows he has no power, and he cannot do that. He is just playing to the gallery.
“I dare him to stop any contestant, if he has what it takes. It’s only in this country a man who is perceived as very corrupt will not care. Look at what happened in Britain.”
“I heard when he (Ayu) said he would have stopped Ortom from running. See how ungrateful human beings are. This was the same Governor Ortom that pleaded and supported him.
“Ortom said, ‘I can take the risk; let him (Ayu) become the national chairman.’ Now, he wants to stop the man who brought him to power, who guaranteed him. He now says he can stop him. That is the corruption we are talking about.
“He has come into office, he has seen money and power; now, he can open his mouth and say, if he wants to stop Ortom, he could. And he said he could stop any contestants if he wants. Let him try it and see.”