By Helen Bananas
Two days after the 7 former executive members of the PDP resigned their positions and later joined the ruling APC in the state, some exco members of the party, led by the State Financial Secretary, Barr. Bede Ojimmadu called a World Press Conference where they addressed over 20 local and national media organisations.
Bede Ojimmadu in his address which lasted over one hour told the journalists that the "escapee" former officers were running away from the party because they were being investigated for the misappropriation of N1.4 Billion being Presidential Campaign Fund which they could not account for.
The PDP stakeholders also claimed, through Barr. Bede, that the recent attack on the party's State Secretariat was carried out by a group of terrorists being trained under the office of the State Youth Leader, and that it was the State Youth Leader that came to an event with the terrorists group and attacked the venue and later reported it to the public.
With this allegations, including others, the former officers approached the police through a petition and demanded that the PDP stakeholders who alleged that they embezzled N1.4b should produce evidence to their claims.
They said the allegation against them had put them into great danger and risk of kidnapping and threat as the public had been deceived to believe they actually had that kind of money.
They also said that the Presidential Campaign Council is different from the State Working Committee (SWC) which they served in, and that the State Working Committee never touched or handled presidential campaign funds.
They also said such allegation had affected their personal dignities and if not cleared, may continue to affect their character and personalities in their future pursuits.
They said they simply wanted the people who alleged that they embezzled N1.4b Presidential Campaign Fund to come and prove their claims, as they had moved on and had no other business with their former party.
They had earlier provided newspaper and video clips of the press conference, and vowed to pursue their matter to courts.
It was for this reason that the State CID where they filed their petition sent an invitation to Barr. Bede Ojimmadu and others who were with him during the press conference to come defend themselves with whatever evidences they have to back up their allegations.
So, today, the PDP team met face to face with the people they said that embezzled their money and were being investigated.
However, the PDP team are denying their claims while alleging that the press quoted them out of context.
From this angle, it will be proper for those who alleged to seriously provide evidences to their claims.
It is proper for people who make allegations against others to start taking responsibilities of what they said.
Trying to drag the Imo government into what many had described as entirely internal businesses looks petty and unacceptable. Ndimo can no longer be deceived by such stupidity.
The PDP Bede Ojimmadu and others who addressed the press conference and made weighty allegations should be brave enough to either provide their evidences or apologize to their former colleagues who are claiming Character assassination or defamation of character.
This case is such a clear and straight matter.
*_Helen Bananas writes from Okuku, Owerri West_*
