BY GRACE IGWEANYI
Key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State
are keeping mum over allegations of diversion of N350 million naira by the duo
of former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa and former Minister of State for
foreign Affairs, Dr (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri.
They are two key leaders of
the PDP in Imo State.
The nation’s anti graft agency, the Economic And Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday, March 15th, 2016, listed Udenwa and Mrs. Onwuliri among
others for collecting N3.1 billion naira in the build to the 2015 presidential
election.
Others
named in the bazaar include former Minister of Aviation and Media Director,
Jonathan Campaign Organization, Femi Fani Kayode , former Secretary to the Government
of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman
and a top politician, Okey Ezenwa.
It was unclear if the
monies alleged by the EFCC to have been collected by the duo were part of funds
for the re- election of President Goodluck Jonathan in Imo State.
A PDP official in the State who spoke on condition of
anonymity said he is not aware if the monies were for campaign purposes in Imo
State. He however told this newspaper that monies for PDP campaigns in Imo State for
the governorship and presidential elections might have come from “multiple
sources”
Another party official (names withheld) had told this online
newspaper last year that a frontline politician who took part in the one of the
toughest elections in the State claimed that “he spent more money than his
incumbent opponent”
Some leaders of the party in Imo State when cornered by some of
our reporters to comment on the issue refused to speak on the matter.
One of them, a top leader from Imo East Senatorial zone (names
withheld) replied “What manner of question is that” when our reporter who
cornered him for comments on the matter.
“The EFCC has just made their allegations; did they tell you
that the monies they collected were for campaigns in Imo State? The matter is
under investigation and it will not be right to comment on it” he said
Another leader in the party who also pleaded anonymity when
contacted by this newspaper for his reactions refused to speak on the matter as
he simply switched off his phone when our reporter asked for his reaction on
the issue.
The party executive in the State is yet to issue a statement
to defend its two leaders who campaigned vigorously for the party during the
build up to the elections.
Several phone calls put
across to the embattled State party chairman of the party, Nnamdi Anyaehie were
never answered.
A party executive in
Owerri West LGA in Imo East Senatorial zone said “We are busy with preparations
for congress in the State. This is not a party matter.
When reminded that as leaders of the party in Imo State, the
PDP in Imo should show solidarity to their leaders when in trouble, he said “The
EFCC has just made their allegations. Those involved are innocent till prove n
guilty. Have they said the monies were for PDP campaigns in Imo State?
This newspaper however recalls that Dr (Mrs) Onwuliri, the
Minister of State, Foreign Affairs was one of the staunch PDP campaigners in
Imo State in the build to the 2015 elections.
She became a thorn in
the flesh for the rival All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo State before the
2015 elections as she launched series of jabs at the then ruling party in Imo
State, accusing the State governor of mismanaging the State.
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