Former Senate President David Mark (middle), with executive members of the Idoma Young Professionals, during their endorsement visit to Senator Mark, in Abuja recently.

As the Federal Govern
ment prosecutes its fight against corruption, the Rivers State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has warned the government not to tarnish the image and reputation of its National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae.
The party’s State Chairman, Engr. Worlu Joshua, who gave the warning in Port Harcourt while reacting to the mention of Chief Falae as part of those who benefited from the arms deal fund, noted that the party’s National Chairman never received money from the former National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan but from the former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  Chief Tony Anenih after an inter-party agreement.
Joshua explained that the National Chairman of the party has served the country in various capacities  including Minister of Finance and had maintained high reputation and should not be dragged into what he did not know.
According to him, in as much as the party in the state appreciates the efforts of the present administration to fight corruption, the Federal Government should not use the opportunity to pursue those who did not support the All Progressives Congress in the last presidential election’’.
“Before the presidential election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was informed that SDP had an understanding with the PDP not to field a presidential candidate. Chief Falae had clearly responded to the issues, thus paving the way for the PDP-SDP working cooperation.
“SDP had an “inter-party co-operation” with PDP through Chief Anenih in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP’’, he noted.
The state chairman said the money received by its National Chairman on behalf of SDP was not paid through the office of the former NSA but through Tony Anenih, the former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and therefore should be exonerated from those who benefited from the arms deal money.
He said the President has continuously laid emphasis on the need to develop an appropriate technology to comprehensively combat corruption and its vices, stressing that the approach, for example, has produced immense results in eliminating corruption in some government agencies
He assured that the SDP could consider to be a participant in the government but would not allow the name and reputation of its National Chairman to be brought into redicule.
Chief Falae, had in a telephone interview with a television station in Lagos confirmed receiving the money, but, claimed he never knew the money given to him was from the money meant for the purchase of arms to prosecute the war against Boko Haram insurgents.
Also in a press briefing in Abuja, the SDP’s Publicity Secretary, Dr.Abdul Ahmed Isaiq, insisted that his party would not return any money to the government coffers.
He explained that the money was given to his party after being approached by the PDP to assist sell former President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid.
He said it was not paid through the office of the former NSA but through Tony Anenih, the former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, ‘’the money we got as a party came because of the alliance we had with the PDP and we have the agreement note from this alliance.
“If it is possible that the money Chief Anenih gave us was from the arms deal, it is left for them to ask Chief Anenih to clarify. As far as we know, we did not have any dealing with Dasuki.”
The SDP spokeman asked the government to hold Anenih, the source of the money rather than the National Chairman or his party responsible.