The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued unabated on Monday, as both factions have accused each other of financial inducement.
While the Ali Modu-Sheriff group accused the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of collecting N50million monthly from PDP governors, the latter accused the former of collecting jeeps from an All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor and top government official.
The Makarfi group also alleged that the Sheriff faction received the sum of $1 million from the ruling party to organize a new Convention.
In a press conference on Monday, Deputy National Chairman of the Sheriff group Cairo Ojuogboh said N50million monthly subvention from PDP governors was the main reason why the Makarfi group has decided to step down.
He also accused Makarfi of nursing a presidential ambition.
But in a swift reaction, spokesperson of the Makarfi group, Dayo Adeyeye accused the Sheriff group of blackmail.
He said: “We accepted President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governor’s comprehensive political solution. It calls for the resignation of Sheriff and the so called NWC and also the National Caretaker Committee to create a level playing field for all, and to build trust among all members. The agreement is then to be submitted to the Supreme Court as the judgment of the Court.
These would have provided both political and legal solution to the logjam. But Sheriff rejected it, and continue to insist that he would conduct a National Convention – when he does not enjoy the trust and confidence of the vast majority of Party members”.
On the alleged N50 million monthly subvention, Adeyeye said, “This is a lie from the pit of hell and a very cheap and unintelligent attempt at blackmail.
It is a known fact by all critical stakeholders of the Party and even the staff that the National Caretaker Committee has from inception been hamstrung by inadequate finance, so much so that simple secretariat duties have been a struggle while we have been unable to pay staff salaries of just N18 Million a month. Members of the National Caretaker Committee do not enjoy any remuneration. It is a selfless service”.
The opposition party has been enmeshed in leadership crisis after the May 21, 2016 national convention in Port Harcourt.
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