A statement issued by Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, vice chairman (South-South) of the Peoples Democratic Party yesterday, December 30, has been denied by four zonal vice chairmen in the party, Leadership reports.
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Ojougboh had at the end of a meeting in Abuja expressed support for the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s campaign against corruption, saying the PDP has disowned itself from every party member involved in the theft of the $2.1 billion arms deal.
As the secretary of the body, Ojougboh said the party would sanction any of its member convicted of corruption in the on-going anti-corruption trial by the Buhari administration.
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The statement signed by Ojougboh reads: “The body notes with great concern the various allegations and charges against some PDP members that served in Government, even as these allegations and charges are yet to be proven, we call on the President to also investigate some of his serving Ministers and associates that even more grievous allegations have been levied against.
“As a result the body wishes to affirm as follows : That the PDP as a Party dissociates itself from any of its members so indicted.
“Any member so convicted shall also face intra party disciplinary action and will be severely sanctioned accordingly.”
But in a swift reaction, Senator Ibrahim Kazure, the zonal vice chairman of the party (Northwest), speaking on behalf of three others in a chat with Leadership, said the statement was invented as they were not part of the meeting that elicited the resolve.
According to Kazure, the outcome would be different if he was aware of such meeting and he attended.
Kazaure said: ”There was no such meeting. I am not part of that meeting. I will support my PDP for whatever they do. All PDP members should rally round all those PDP members that are accused (of corruption).”
“The body would demand a retract from Dr. Ojougboh because nobody, no matter how highly placed can speak on my behalf because I am alive.
”But there was no such meeting (and) there was no such discussion even on the phone. I am in Abuja, I did not go anywhere and nobody should go to the press and speak on my behalf. I am too old for anybody in this country to speak on my behalf.”
Also addressing the issue, Alhaji Yusuf Ayitogo, the PDP zonal chairman from North Central, disclosed he has been unable to participate in party activities for almost six months due to ill-health, stressing that he would not have participated in the purported meeting.
Similarly, National Vice chairmen in Southwest and Southeast, Dr. Stephen Oruh and Col. Austin Akobundu respectively disclosed that they were not invited for any meeting during the holidays.
“I have been on holidays since December 24, I was not part of any meeting in Abuja. In fact I was not aware of any meeting. You are just informing me.
“We have a forum where we discuss the affairs of the meeting but I did not attend the meeting you are talking about,” Dr. Oruh said.
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Recall that some of the PDP members who held positions during the previous administration are currently facing corruption charges for allegedly diverting money meant for purchase of arms for the fight against Boko Haram.
A former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, a former minister of state for finance, Bashir Yuguda, a former director of finance at the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, and his son, Sagir Bafarawa have all been alleged to be involved in the scandal.
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