I didn’t pay compensation to ex Gov Idris – Capt. Wada

By Christiana Ekpa

Following spurious news tread indicating a faceoff between the two former governors of Kogi, the immediate past governor of the state, Capt. Idris , has denied the reports making the rounds that he paid monetary compensation to his predecessor, Ibrahim Idris.
This is just as the former governor of Kogi State disclosed that the relationship between him and Idris, which he said predated their emergence as governors of the state respectively, has remained cordial, as it indeed also extends to their families.
Wada, according to the statement signed by his Media Consultant, Jacob Edi in Abuja said “there is no crack, whatsoever, within the Kogi state chapter of the PDP”, adding that the party is involved in harnessing and harvesting its goodwill to take over power in the next election at all levels.
The statement reads “The attention of The Wada Media Office has been drawn to a spurious, yet malicious news tread indicating a face-off between Capt. Idris Wada and his predecessor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and thereby suggesting a crack within the rank of Kogi state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“Equally worrisome is the dubious and false claim that Capt. Wada was quoted as saying he paid Alhaji Idris the sum of N4.5billion as refund of money he (Alhaji Idris) spent to prosecute Capt. Wada’s election as governor of Kogi state. The report also alleged that Capt. Wada said he paid the said money through Alhaji Idris’s driver and that his inability to balance up a remaining N500 million has brought him on collusion course with Alhaji Idris. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
“Ordinarily, this level of poorly orchestrated lies would have been ignored since it cannot stand the basic minimum test of credibility or even logic. However to keep quiet can give a wrong impression which can also lead to a lasting perception, albeit wrong. Accordingly, The Wada Media Office wish to respond as follows.
“There was no monetary or any form of compensation paid by Capt. Idris Wada to Alhaji Ibrahim Idris either while he (Wada) was in or out office as Governor of Kogi State.
“The relationship between both men, which predates their emergence, respectively, as governors of the state has remained cordial. In deed the relationship also extends to their families.
“The question of who is the leader of the PDP in the state is not in doubt neither is it the basis of the relationship between the two leaders. It is instructive to note that PDP as a political party is too organized to create any lacuna as to how its leaders emerge.
“There is no crack, whatsoever, within the Kogi state chapter of the PDP. The party is involved in harnessing and harvesting its goodwill to take over power in the next election at all levels.
“It is important that authors of such heinous lies seek other outlets to ventilate their self-inflicted frustration and no amount of mischief can derail the resolve of the PDP to come back to power.