The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has denied media reports that he asked Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his allies to leave the party.
Naija News reported that Adebutu had called on the party chieftains who are against the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, to resign from the party.
Governors Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Rivers, Oyo, Benue, Abia, and Enugu States respectively had insisted on Ayu's resignation before campaigning for the party's presidential flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking to non-indigene residents in Ogun at a gathering in Abeokuta, Adebutu said those unwilling to abide by the decision of a party are free to leave or form their own party.
But a statement on Sunday by the Director of Media, Ladi Adebutu/Akinlade Campaign Organisation, Afolabi Orekoya, denied reports that Adebutu asked Wike and other aggrieved governors to leave the party.
Orekoya also slammed the spokesperson of the Congress of United Political Party (CUPP), Ikenga Ugochinyere, for misleading the public with his statement on Sunday.
He argued that Ugochinyere attempted to discredit and cause disaffection for Adebutu without verifying the authenticity of the statement he made at the gathering.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organisation has been drawn to a statement credited to a group under the aegis of Congress of United Political Party(CUPP) and signed by its spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, alleging that Hon. (Dr) Oladipupo Adebutu has asked Governor Wike of Rivers State and some others to leave the party.
“While we will not wish to dignify the statement with a response, it is necessary to set the records straight so as to clarify the misconceptions that the public may harbor.
“It is saddening that a learned fellow like Ugochinyere will jump on a misleading story headline published by some media to discredit and cause disaffection for our principal without verifying the authenticity of the statement being made, rather, Ugochinyere had chosen to join the bandwagon in creating unnecessary tension and unwarranted cheap publicity.
“We wish to put in the right perspective that the alleged statement was directed to dissidents and agents of the opposition party (APC) within OGUN PDP who had chosen not to submit to the PDP National Working Committee leadership and pick illegalities as a roadmap.
“Similarly, it should be noted that the various media reports were mere misconceptions arising from quotations out of context. Some media organizations had twisted the words of our principal in a bid to mislead the public."
Orekoya stated that Adebutu did not mention Wike or any other governor's name in his speech, stressing that he will not make statements that will undermine the unity and cohesion of the party.
He said the PDP remains one indivisible party that is ready and fully prepared to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and rescue Nigerians from the shackles of maladministration.
It added: “It is on record that there was no time during the address of Hon. Adebutu where he specifically mentioned Governor Wike or any other Governor of PDP but rather he is acknowledging the supremacy of the party’s Chairman in the State and urging those who cannot submit to the leadership of the party in Ogun State through their anti-party activities to excuse themselves rather than causing distractions for the party and serving the opposition
“Hon. Adebutu is a cerebral party man who will never make statements that will undermine the unity and cohesion of the party or sow discord among party faithful at all levels.
“We challenge CUPP and its spokesperson, Ugochinyere to substantiate the misleading information and always endeavor to always fact check sensitive issues like this before jumping to conclusions if he truly wants a United Party that will defeat the ruling APC in 2023 at all levels as any division will not be favorable to all members of the party.
“While we will continue to acknowledge the critical role of the media in shaping public opinion, we also urge the media to endeavor to be socially responsible by publishing correct and accurate information
“We further enjoin the media to always seek clarification where necessary rather than publishing information on the basis of insinuation, preemption, and assumptions, acts that can heat up the polity, especially at this critical period of electioneering.
“The PDP at the National and State levels remain one indivisible political party that is ready and fully prepared to dislodge the APC and rescue Nigerians from the shackles of maladministration.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
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