Usman Okai Austin, a major stakeholder of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state, has debunked rumors of plans to dump his party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Austin who ran for the House of Representatives in the last general elections and lost to the APC, reiterated his loyalty to his party in a statement shared on his official Facebook page.
“I’ve said it often: I’m in the PDP and I’m not leaving the party. If I were to leave, I’d either join the ruling party or focus on my profession. I see no reason to leave the PDP. If I were joining the APC, I would make it known publicly, along with my reasons. As it stands, there’s no such discussion of me joining the APC.
“When did it become a crime to mind one’s own business? I’m minding my own business for now, yet the rumor is everywhere that I’m joining the APC. The other day, I was in prison, and you spread evil news about me.
“Can’t you people leave me alone? Let me be. I’m not joining the APC, I’m not leaving the PDP, and I’m not forming a coalition, i am not doing SDP, I am not doing ADC, I am not doing ADA, I am PDP member and I am okay with it,” he said.
This is coming two months after he tendered apology to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo led government over defamatory statements, alleging diversion of N13.bn from the state’s coffers by the governor.
Recall that Okai Austin, alongside Okpanachi and Peter Onuma had held a press conference where they made spurious financial allegations against the Kogi State Government. Following the reports of their statements, he was arrested by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) and later remanded in prison by a court order.
He spent two weeks in remand and released after meeting bail conditions.
Following interventions leading to his release, he issued a public retraction of his allegations, stating that he and his accomplices were ill informed about the funds in question.
“Consequently, I acknowledge that our previous comments may have inadvertently caused confusion and were based on inaccurate information about the financial details available to us at that material time.
“I hereby apologise on behalf of myself, Okpanachi Jacob, and Peter Onuma, who were invited as part of the press conference and withdraw the said statement in its entirety.
“Furthermore, we wish to categorically state that our activities within Kogi State are devoid of bigotry or Party differences as alleged by some quarters, rather a sincere participation in ensuring that you write your name in the golden history of our dear State.
“Our collective intention has consistently been to provide an opposing voice and contribute to holding the government accountable, a role we believe is vital in a democratic society.
