PDP gave me N100m not Yuguda – Odili

One time Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, has affirmed that he received the sum of N100m from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the mobilization of the South-South for 2015 elections.

He denied reports that he collected money from a former Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda.

Odili said he had never had any dealing with the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki, rtd.

The former Rivers Governor, who disclosed this on Tuesday through a statement in Abuja, said he received the N100 million at the residence of the former National Chairman of PDP, Alh. Adamu Muazu.

Odili said, “My attention has been drawn to some publications where a former Minister of State (Finance), Mr. Bashir Yuguda was quoted to have said that he allegedly gave me the sum of N100 million, out of the money he purportedly collected from the former National Security Adviser. And I wish to state as follows:

“I decided to personally sign this rebuttal because over the years, I had ignored various spurious and patently false reports against me because I Knew that at the fullness of time, the truth would surely prevail.

“I would have similarly ignored this recent falsehood attributed to Mr. Yuguda but for the fact that the uninformed are beginning to latch on this long – held false and tendentious narrative, hence my decision to rebut this with all vehemence.

“I categorically state with all sense of responsibility that I have never had any dealings, private or business or official, with the former National Security Adviser, so the issue of allegedly collecting N100 million from either the former NSA or Mr. Yuguda does not arise.

“That as part of preparations towards the 2015 elections, the PDP set up contact and mobilisation committees across the six geo – political zones and I was appointed the Chairman of the South – South mobilisation committee.

“Consequent upon this, the party, not the former NSA or Yuguda gave the South -South Committee through me, the sum of N100 million along with other zonal Chairmen, in the house of the National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Muazu, for the assignment.”

Odili further stated that he wrote a report to the leader of the party on how the N100 million he received was spent.