The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Edo State Working Committee has passed a vote of confidence on the National Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, and expressed its support for the anti-corruption position he has taken by returning the money surreptitiously paid into his bank account by the embattled National Chairman Sen Iyorchia Ayu.
While denouncing and condemning an unknown group that referred to itself and PDP stakeholders as calling for the sacking of Orbih, the Edo PDP Working Committee through a release signed by the State Publicity Secretary Mr. Ogie Aigbe Vasco, described their activity as led by a certain John Omorogbe as frivolous and self-serving.
The statement sent to Truthlive.net reads; “the attention of the PDP Edo State Working Committee has been drawn to a certain publication going round the social media by a certain group known as the EDO PDP STAKEHOLDERS, and led by one Mr. John Omorogbe. The State Working Committee is not aversed to opinions that would move the PDP to victory in the forthcoming elections. However, at this crucial time of our existence, frivolous and self-serving media posturing would not be of any use.
In this regard, the State Working Committee resolves to inform the PDP family, members, and the voting public, in Edo State in particular and in the nation in general as follows:
“That the PDP is a well-structured party with various organs equipped with varied powers to make decisions on issues that affect the party. Anyone or group that may have opinions that may be crucial to PDP victory in the next elections should feel free to approach any of the appropriate organs for such opinions to be translated to the party’s decision.
“That the Edo South caucus of our dear PDP has an organ, Edo South Senatorial District, that is mandated to take action on the issues that affect the party in the district; so also are the other two Senatorial districts. The Edo South Senatorial District is led by a Vice Chairman who is ably supported by his recognized executive members. By the constitution of our party, the Vice Chairman of the party in the district has powers to call a meeting and we know the same for the Vice Chairmen of the three Senatorial Districts in the State.
“That Chief Dan Osi Orbih, the National Vice Chairman, South-South has done no act or activity that calls for his suspension or sack from office. We also call on Mr. John Omorogbe and his group of stakeholders to furnish the reading public with the minutes of meetings wherein our leader, National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Dan Osi Orbih presided and such alleged anti-party activity was discussed.
That the Edo State Chapter of the PDP is in tune with the human management skills, leadership acumen, and courageous decision-making ability of Chief Dan Osi Orbih, as National Vice Chairman, PDP, South-South. These qualities have endeared him to edolites and the entire people of the South-South.
“We are also in support of the decision so far taken by Chief Dan Osi Orbi, National Vice Chairman, PDP, South-South in respect of a purported “housing allowance”. Mr. John Omorogbe is hereby put on notice to produce the report of the meeting wherein Our leader, National Vice Chairman of the PDP, South-South, Chief Dan Osi Orbi voted in support of such sleaze disbursement.
“The State Working Committee, having painstakingly reviewed the entire slanderous, paid, and frivolous publication from the group of contractor politicians, led by Mr. John Omorogbe, hereby dismiss same and urge all members of the PDP family, real party stakeholders, and the voting public to disregard the call for the sacking or suspension of Chief Dan Osi Orbih, National Vice Chairman PDP South-South and our leader of inestimable value.
That WE HEREBY PASS A VOTE OF IMPLICIT CONFIDENCE ON CHIEF DAN OSI ORBIH. His leadership and membership in the PDP Edo State Chapter are never in doubt.
“We also appeal to all the media in the state and beyond to be fair and just to the PDP during this election cycle.
We urge the general public to see the call by the “Edo PDP stakeholders” as toil by an inverted wise man who fetches water in a basket in a lightless room”
Truthlive.net had published that Chief Dan Orbih is one of the four members of the NWC that returned the money. Other NWC members who returned the money were the National Vice Chairman (South-West), Olasoji Adagunodo; Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja and National Women Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe.
In what has become an #Ayugate on the Nigerian media space, the said amount of money that was paid out by the embattled National chairman was N540,000,000. While the two deputies & national secretary got N36,000,000. each, 15 NWC members N28,800,000. each.