PDP Finances: Nwodo Didn't Leave N7B In PDP Accounts - Alkali
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 13, (THEWILL) - The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today refuted talks that its erstwhile National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo left N7 billion naira in the party’s bank accounts when he was forced to resign as leader of the party.
One of Nwodo’s aides, Buhari Bala, who was a political adviser to Nwodo, had told the media a few days ago that Nwodo left behind the whooping sum as at the time he exited the party about 8 weeks ago.
Bala had also alleged that Nwodo’s removal was masterminded by the current members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
But responding to the statement credited to Bala, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Professor Ahmed Rufai Alkali in a statement said: “We wish to state that Alhaji Bala has never been in a position to know the state of the party’s finances and he is, therefore, not well qualified to speak on this matter. The office of the national financial secretary and the national treasurer are better placed to comment on an issue like that.
“We view the comments made by Alhaji Bala on all the issues he raised against the leadership of the PDP very seriously and would, therefore, request further clarifications from him on the matter.
“This is to enable us determine the next course of action as we cannot fold our arms and watch mischief makers rubbish the efforts we have made in strengthening the bond of friendship, mutual respect and fraternity among members of the National Working Committee and other leaders, both former and serving.
“We wish to state that Alhaji Bala has never been in a position to know the state of the party's finances and is therefore not well qualified to speak this matter. The office of the National Financial Secretary and the National Treasurer are better placed to comment on an issue like that.
“We therefore find it strange and disquieting that Alhaji Bala could choose this time to attempt to throw spanner on our collective efforts and determination to achieve success for our Party in the forth coming general elections.
“While we do not wish to delve into the details of the circumstances that led to the resignation of Dr Nwodo from office, we wish to quote the former National Chairman himself who among other reasons said, that his decision to resign his position was based on the need to ‘maintain cohesion in the overall interest of the Party.
Alkali said: “for an aide to the former Chairman to turn around and make unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations of backstabbing against the NWC of the PDP smacks of mischief and indeed, a deliberate attempt to create bad blood, hatred and odium between members of the National Working Committee and the former National Chairman whom we hold in high esteem.”