The defence of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, spokesman
has finally commenced at an Abuja Federal High Court with the
presentation of it’s first witness.
The defence witness, Ike Abonyi, a
journalist and Public Relations Consultant with a 28-years working
experience in his testimony informed the court how former President,
Goodluck Jonathan demanded for a corporate account from Metuh which some
amount was paid into.
Abonyi said, “the President told Metuh to bring a corporate account to him for immediate mobilization.”
“I’m aware as a journalist that funding of publicity comes from the leader of the party mainly.”
He
said Metuh had engaged him and his services and that of a Public
Relations consultant called CNC connect to repackage the image of the
party.
Abonyi said, “Metuh called me to work with him when he won
the election to occupy the position of the National Publicity Secretary
of the PDP, saying his new position has to do with the media and he had
no knowledge of the media.
“In a bid to repackage the image of
PDP, Metuh informed me that he would be engaging the services of a
consultancy firm called CNC connect and together we made presentation to
Jonathan.
”CNC had worked with former Chairman of the party,
Ekewesileze Nwodo but had to withdraw their services because they are
being owned by the party.
“Metuh, however told me that he had
appealed to CNC connect that they would work with him due to their good
job. He appealed to CNC connect that he would want them to continue
where Nwodo stopped. They said they were willing to return but the party
was owing them and this, Metuh agreed to push their case.
“Following
their presentation in a meeting, Metuh promised to meet them but at
that time, there was no resources to engage them but we promised to get
funds from the party.
“Eventually, the general election was fast
approaching and Metuh approached me as the Executive Director of New
Telegraph and requested he would need my full services this time, saying
he would like if I can come in and work as a consultant to help him on
the new challenge of improving the image of the party which was in bad
shape and by virtue of his position all eyes were on him to come up with
strategies ahead of the upcoming general election.
“When I
joined him, Metuh told me that CNC connect will be needed and my
response was CNC connect was too expensive as we can deal with other
Public Relations firm but he insisted on CNC as the assignment was
enormous and would rather go for the best. When I told him of funding,
he said the general election was coming and the lack of fund in his
department will soon be a thing of the past as the leader of the party
will have no choice but to fund the party.
“Even when I tried to
lure Metuh out of CNC connect, he reminded me that he had made a
commitment and would not go out of it. We eventually called CNC connect
to join the team of journalists, where he informed us that he had been
given an assignment by the leader of the party, former President,
Goodluck Jonathan to come up with strategy that would help the party win
the forthcoming election.
“Metuh told us that the assignment
given to him was also given to some other professionals and we should
see it as a challenge and make sure that our own strategy prevails. The
team anchored by CNC connect with PDP began the strategies meeting with
Metuh presiding over most of the meetings. We all agreed that he had a
good product to offer, but Metuh said we should wait for clearance from
the Presidential villa for Presentation.
“One afternoon, he
called me that he had just received a call from the National Chairman of
the party that the President would be ready for presentation that night
and all those involved were resident in Abuja except the Managing
Director of CNC connect whom I called to take the next available flight
for the presentation. Because he was already expecting the presentation,
he took the next available flight to Abuja. Because he was coming in
from Lagos, other members of the team went in one vehicle while Metuh
carried the Managing Director of CNC in his vehicle. Upon arrival at the
villa, only Metuh’s car was allowed to enter but they waited for us at
the clearance point where we were ushered to a waiting room where Metuh
left and entered another room and 15 minutes later, Metuh ushered us
into a large parlour with the President, vice Senate President ,
National Chairman of the party, former governor of Cross River state,
Liyel Imoke and some media aides including Reuben Abati all seated.
“When
we entered, the MD of CNC connect was the first to speak from our team,
after the presentation, the President requested for comments from the
team which he later said were too hard on him, adding that he himself
was not helping the matter with the way he was acting.
“At a
point, Reuben Abati who saw our presentation as an indictment on him
told the President that the situation was not bad as we portrayed but
was overruled. After the presentation, the President requested comments
from those seated. Peter Obi urged the president to mobilise our team
before the commencement of the campaign, if not it would be difficult to
win the election giving the difficult situation of the government at
that time.
Following Obi’s comment, the President advised that
all others that did presentation that night should collapse into Metuh’s
team. At that point, the President commended Metuh but said the real
job was out there.
” President told him to bring a corporate account to him for immediate mobilisation.”
“I’m aware as a journalist that funding of publicity comes from the leader of the party mainly.”
“After
our presentation, we returned to our homes waiting to hear from Metuh
on the outcome. One afternoon he told us that work will now start that
the president said he should check his bank account that some money had
been disbursed for the job.”
Cross examination is still in progress.
