The Abubakar Baraje led faction of the PDP popularly called the New PDP has demanded a public apology from FCT minister, Bala Muhammed over the closure of the Adamawa State Governor’s Lodge. The New PDP has demanded that the property which it has been using as a make shift secretariat after the closure of its national office be re-opened within 48 hours.
National Publicity Secretary of the New PDP, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, said, “What the minister has brazenly done is to indirectly attack the people and government of Adamawa State in his desperation to impress the PDP tin god, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
“This unwarranted and rash action by Senator Mohammed can be equated with the recent attack against the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau by the Guinea-Bissau authorities, which sparked outrage and for which that country’s government swiftly apologised.
“We advise the misguided minister to, within 48 hours, not only apologise to the people and Government of Adamawa State, but also to unseal the lodge, which serves as our temporary national secretariat following the sealing off of our national secretariat by the police.
“The Government of Adamawa State has not committed any offence by allowing us to use the lodge as contact office.”
The New PDP accused Muhammed of impunity and usurping powers that o not belong to him.
“We urge our members and supporters neither to worry nor be demoralised by the rascality of the Tukur faction, as we are ever ready to ensure that undemocratic elements do not near the leadership of our party anymore.
“We are on course and by the grace of God, we shall surely come out victorious for the greatness of our party and growth of democracy in Nigeria”, the statement added.
In response, Special Assistant (Media) to the FCT Minister, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, called on the PDP to seek redress in court.
“Why are they giving ultimatum when the courts are there for them to seek interpretation of the FCT law? Nobody should be greater than the law. What we operate is the rule of law. Since they are not in denial that they are using the place for party affairs, then the place is justifiably locked. You cannot continue to use a residential building as an office space in Abuja. That is the position of the law.
“In any case, those who seek equity should go with clean hands. The Development Control Department of the FCT wrote them and it was after that they moved in to seal the place. If they feel we have trampled on their rights, the courts are there to right the wrongs. It is not in their position to give ultimatum because this is a legal matter.”