Group Wants Ayu Investigated By EFCC Over Wike’s Revelation

A socio-political group, Rescue Nigeria Economy Project, on Saturday, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to invite embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to respond to the corruption allegations levelled against him by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Wike, in a television interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, last Friday, described Ayu as a very corrupt man who collected the sum of N1b from a presidential aspirant in Lagos shortly before the PDP’s presidential primary.
“I’m totally informed. Ayu has the opportunity to challenge me, I will reveal more. Some of the governors can tell you. Will he deny the fact that he collected N1bn from Lagos? Let him deny it; I will tell him who gave him the money, not from the Lagos State Government. The money was given to him in Lagos.
“He met one of the presidential candidates (aspirants) and told him that he’s not sure these governors may want to sponsor the party,” Wike said.
However, in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Dennis Alamu-George, the group said Ayu’s silence over the weighty allegations levelled against him by Wike shows that something is amiss.
“We are surprised that 24 hours after the weighty allegations levelled against the PDP Chairman by the Rivers State governor, he has neither confirmed nor denied the claim.
“For us, silence is not golden on this matter. If Ayu fails to challenge Wike to prove his allegations, then the anti-graft agencies should do the needful. The EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, should personally take up the matter,’’ Alamu-George said.
“For the national chairman of a political party which has been accusing the ruling party of corruption and misgovernance and has offered itself as a better alternative to be involved in this humongous scandal is not only alarming but at the same time worrisome,” the statement said.