Kola Ologbondiyan, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) recently-retired national publicity secretary, responded to claims that Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman, had paid money into the accounts of some members of the National Working Committee, saying that the money was legitimately earned and that this was standard party procedure.
On Friday, the former spokesman revealed this while taking questions on the BEEHIVEGOSSIPS morning show.
Remember that at least six out of the 19 NWC members returned money that was allegedly approved by Ayu and had been deposited into their accounts?
Depending on the recipient’s rank, the sums range from N28.8 million to N36 million.
Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Chairman South; Stella Effah-Attoe, National Woman Leader; and Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman, South-South were among those who refunded.
Other members included Olasoji Adagunobi-Oluwatukesi, National Vice Chairman for the South-West, Alli Odefa, National Vice Chairman for the South-East, and Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National.
According to reports, the situation has alarmed the PDP’s upper echelons, including Atiku Abubakar’s camp, which views the unfolding events as unfavorable for the party, particularly as the election season gets underway.
But when discussing the subject, Ologbondiyan claimed that the PDP has a policy of paying NWC members allowances because they do not earn monthly wages.
According to past experience, there is no way that the current topic would not have been discussed in the National Working Committee with minutes being recorded, and it will be agreed upon by all members of the NWC what each member will receive.
“Therefore, it is utterly odd that individuals talk about money that is properly acquired as if it were a bribe. If any NWC member interrupts to claim that the matter was not considered in the committee or that no consensus was reached, I will be shocked.
“It is what we met, that is what we left, and that has been the practice.”
He spoke.
