The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers state has been hit by a crisis over Christmas gifts from the state governor, Nyesom Wike.
An impeccable local source within the party who revealed this to our reporter said that Wike gave key stakeholders of the party in the LGA a sum of N30million as Christmas gift.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity further said that the leadership of the party at the local government demanded for all beneficiaries to contribute five million naira each from the thirty million received to give other members of the party that were not beneficiaries for the sake of carrying everyone along, which they obliged.
He, however, said that the party’s leadership reneged on the agreement to give other members the money contributed by all the beneficiaries.
He noted that party faithful in the area were disappointed that the leadership ‘cheated’ them and that they are threatening to either vote for an opposition party or boycott the forthcoming general elections in the LGA, if nothing was done to address the situation by the state governor.
The source pointed out that some of the beneficiaries particularly those of ward 3 and 8 still shared part of their remaining 25 million naira to friends, well wishers, supporters and loyalists in the LGA ranging from twenty to thirty thousand naira each during the christmas as the one contributed to the leadership did not get to other members.
His words; The cash gift given to key stakeholders of PDP in Abua/Odual LGA by Gov. Wike has sparked a crisis among the members of the party over what could be termed as selective recognition and embezzlement of money contributed by all beneficiaries of the largesse of December 2022.
“The money given to the beneficiaries was a personal gift from Gov. Wike in recognition of their unwavering support and loyalty to the party since 2015 and critical stakeholders across the 13 wards in the LGA were represented and the money was given only to those invited by the governor.
“The leadership of the party at the local government demanded for all beneficiaries to contribute five million naira each from the thirty million received to please other members of the party that were not beneficiaries.
“But surprisingly, the purpose of the five million deductions from the beneficiaries did not see the light of the day. Party members are unhappy with the development as it appears that many will be working for few individuals to eat. Some party members are threatening to boycott the forthcoming general elections except the party leadership address the issue regarding the deductions of five million each.
“Some of the beneficiaries particularly those of ward 3 and 8 still shared part of their remaining 25 million to friends, well wishers, supporters and loyalists in the LGA ranging from twenty to thirty thousand naira each during the christmas while, the one contributed to the leadership mysterious vanished to personal pockets. That is why some members of the party are fiercely threatening to shun the forthcoming general elections or vote for opposition candidate. They are calling on the governor to adress the situation to make everyone happy to work for the party during the elections”, the source said.
