Bayelsa PDP Exonerates Alison-Madueke Over N70m Campaign Donation

The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has exonerated the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dizeani Alison-Madueke of any wrong doing in the donation of funds to the party for the hosting of the last presidential campaign rally of the party in the state.

According to the party, though the controversy that trailed the N70million campaign donation was unfortunate and has led to the suspension of the State Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), the sum was donated by members of the party at the State and Federal levels including the petroleum resources minister.

The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Barr. Osom Mackbere, who made this known while speaking with journalists in Yenagoa, the state capital on Friday, also said the claim that the N70 million donation was from the pocket of Mrs. Alison-Madueke is wrong.

Mackbere said: “The money was donated by stakeholders of the party for the successful hosting of the Presidential campaign rally in the state.

 “The dragging of the name of the Minister of Petroleum Resource is the doing of the suspended Chairman of the Party. Though we have decided not to engage in banter with our suspended Chairman, the party wants to clear the name of the Minister of Petroleum from the controversial money. The mention of Dr. Dizeani Allison-Madueke name is deliberate act of a drowning man”.

Reacting to his suspension, the embattled state PDP chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), said the action of the State Executive Committee members is illegal and unconstitutional.

According to a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, which was made available to newsmen by his Media aide, Mr. Nelson Agadi, Inokoba stated that the charges of alleged diversion of N40 million was a lie and a deliberate action by some desperate politicians in the state.

“The fund was distributed as directed by the donors and there is no way I would have directed the said amount to my private purse.

“The claim that I was suspended from office is a rumor. And the issue of rumour has become a big problem in every developing state and Bayelsa is no exception. Let me call on desperate politicians and their sponsors to use their energy, resources and power for the development of the people and the state at large”, he said.