Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, has denied media reports that he asked Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his allies to leave the party.
According to Track News, Adebutu has called on party chieftains who oppose PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu to resign from the party.
Governors of Rivers, Oyo, Benue, Abia, and Enugu States, respectively, Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, insisted on Ayu’s resignation before campaigning for the party’s presidential flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar.
Adebutu told non-indigene residents of Ogun at a gathering in Abeokuta that those who do not agree with a party’s decision are free to leave or form their own party.
However, Afolabi Orekoya, the Director of Media for the Ladi Adebutu/Akinlade Campaign Organisation, denied on Sunday that Adebutu had asked Wike and other disgruntled governors to leave the party.
Orekoya also chastised the Congress of United Political Parties (CUPP) spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, for misleading the public with his statement on Sunday.
He claimed that Ugochinyere attempted to discredit and alienate Adebutu by failing to verify the veracity of his statement at the gathering.
“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,” the statement reads.
“While we do not wish to degrade the statement by responding, it is necessary to set the record straight in order to clear up any misconceptions that the public may have.”
“It is disheartening that a learned man like Ugochinyere would jump on a misleading story headline published by some media to discredit and cause disaffection for our principal without first verifying the authenticity of the statement being made; rather, Ugochinyere chose to join the bandwagon in creating unnecessary tension and unwarranted cheap publicity.”
“We wish to emphasize that the alleged statement was directed at opposition party (APC) dissidents and agents within OGUN PDP who chose not to submit to the PDP National Working Committee leadership and instead chose illegalities as a roadmap.”
“It should also be noted that the various media reports were simply misinterpretations based on quotations taken out of context.” Some media outlets had twisted our principal’s words in an attempt to mislead the public.”
Adebutu, according to Orekoya, did not mention Wike or any other governor’s name in his speech, emphasizing that he will not make statements that will undermine the party’s unity and cohesion.
He stated that the PDP is still one indivisible party ready to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) and free Nigerians from the shackles of maladministration.
“It is on record that there was no time during Hon. Adebutu’s address where he specifically mentioned Governor Wike or any other Governor of the 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,” the statement continued.
“Hon. Adebutu is a cerebral party man who will never make statements that undermine the party’s unity and cohesion or sow discord among party faithful at all levels.”
“We challenge CUPP and its spokesperson, Ugochinyere, to substantiate the misleading information and to always endeavor to 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 beneficial to all members of the party.”
“While we will continue to recognize the media’s critical role in shaping public opinion, we also urge the media to strive for social responsibility by publishing correct and accurate information.”
“We also urge the media to seek clarification whenever possible rather than publishing information based on insinuation, preemption, and assumptions, which can inflame the polity, especially during this critical election season.”
“The PDP remains one indivisible political party at the national and state levels, ready and fully prepared to unseat the APC and free Nigerians from the shackles of maladministration.”
