Senator Iyorcha Ayu, the embattled national chairman of opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was on Tuesday put under the klieg-light as some of his party leaders exposed an old video of him promising to resign in the interest of party unity in the event the presidential candidate comes from the North.
Theliberationnews reports this week that Ayu has been under pressure to step down to allow for balancing of the party with most of the current top positions tilting in favor of the North.
Despite this however, supporters of the national chairman of PDP have been doing everything possible to ward off the pressure through holding of strategic meetings and in the media.
In an old video of an interview Ayu granted Arise Television while campaigning for the office of national chairman, he was heard promising to step down in the event the presidential candidate of PDP comes from the north in the interest of the party if asked to do so.
In a twist of meaning, supporters of Ayu have publicly interpreting this to mean that he only promised to resign if the party wins the presidential election. Ayu reinforced this position by stating on Monday that he has a four year mandate and would not leave before then.
When asked in the circulating Arise Television interview what he would do should the presidential candidate emerge from the North, he said:
“Party positions we have agreed are not tied to positions of executive and legislative positions. However, I’m a very, very democratic person I will do everything to promote the interest and image of my party.
“If the PDP says I should step down after the presidential candidate emerges and happens to be in the North, I will be very glad to do so. Because what we want is to run to take over the government and run the government. In the interest of Nigerians, I will sacrifice anything to ensure that my party wins.”
The Nigerian public is watching to see if Ayu will keep to his words. Time shall tell.
