The Police, on Saturday, sealed off the
secretariat of the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the Peoples
Democratic Party located at Plot 4, Oyi River Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.
One of our correspondent, who visited
the secretariat on Saturday, reports that riot policemen have taken over
the two roads leading to the building.
The riot policemen, who were about 10 in number, were led by an Inspector, Mr. Luka Dabo.
When our correspondent attempted to gain
entrance into the building, he was stopped by Abubakar Binna, a Lance
Corporal, who said that they were given an order “from above” not to
allow anyone to enter the building.
He, however, declined to state who gave the order.
The riot policemen, who were all armed with guns, were overheard saying they might be at the place for the next few days.
An Armoured Personnel Carrier, with
registration number NPF 5229C,was also seen parked at the entrance of
the road leading to the building.
The Baraje-led New PDP however described the closure of its head office by the police as the height of impunity.
A statement issued by the National
Secretary of the faction, Mr. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in Abuja on Saturday,
said security forces were mobilised to seal off the office on Saturday
based on a “non-existent court injunction, which the main PDP faction
claimed to have obtained on Friday.
The statement said, “The whole world
knows that Justice E. Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday
refused to grant Bamanga Tukur’s application for an ex parte injunction against our party’s executive.
“The judge asked the parties to maintain
the status quo. His judgment was a reinforcement of an earlier order of
the Lagos High Court, which also asked parties to maintain the status
quo. Now, should Nigerians conclude that Tukur’s interpretation of status quo is this crude display of naked power and undisguised impunity?
“We are not at all surprised at this
occurrence, given the fact that Tukur issued a statement on Friday
evening deliberately seeking to mislead the media and the public that
Justice Chukwu granted him an injunction against us.
“We are happy that the ever vigilant
Nigerian press ignored him and his falsehood. Now, he is not only
wilfully disobeying the various courts, which have made pronouncements
on this matter, he is spicing up his love for impunity with this
reckless misuse of state power by misleading the police.
“We call for an immediate removal of the
siege to our secretariat. We call on the Inspector-General of Police to
order the immediate removal of his men from our office. Doing so, we
believe, will serve the interest of justice, rule of law and democracy.
Nigeria is a country ruled by law and not by might and force.
“We hasten to say that if this move is
aimed at breaking our spirit, that goal is definitely off the mark. We
are determined to rescue our party from the lawlessness and crass
arrogance that have defined the character of the Tukur leadership since
inception. Our party needs that deliverance; its members deserve the
change we have brought into it,” the statement said.
But the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP defended the action, arguing that by ordering that the parties in the dispute maintain status quo ante bellum
until the determination of the case, “the court clearly granted the
request of the PDP that the group led by Baraje should not operate or be
recognised by INEC.”
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr.
Olisa Metuh, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, applauded the sealing
off of the secretariat opened by the Baraje group, noting that it was in
line with the order of the court which held that the splinter group
should not operate or parade itself as the leader of the PDP until the
hearing of the suit before it.
The statement said, “Our attention has
been drawn to reports by a section of the media erroneously suggesting
that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja did not accede to our
prayer that INEC should not recognise the so-called new PDP-led by
Baraje.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the position of the Federal High Court is clear. By ordering that the two parties maintain status quo ante bellum,
the court has clearly ordered the Baraje group to stop all its
activities including operating a secretariat while it affirmed the
leadership of the PDP under Tukur.
“By the order of the court, no person is
authorised by law to open a secretariat or operate under the name,
colour and flag of the PDP other than the one led by Tukur. The sealing
off of the secretariat opened by the Baraje group under the name,
colour and flag of the PDP is therefore in order and in line with the
law”.
Metuh urged all members “to close ranks
and remain steadfast to the constitution of the party especially as it
marches on to victory in the 2015 general elections.”
Similarly, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command has defended the action.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Altienne Daniel, in an interview with reporters ,
said, “It is true that we deployed policemen to the Maitama office of
the PDP and the Wadata Plaza headquarters of the party based on a court
order which directed the parties to maintain the status quo. The
police at the two offices did not prevent anyone from entering or
leaving the offices, they were just there to prevent a breach of the
peace and to enforce the order of the court.”
In a related development, security aides
attached to a former Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki and
Baraje have been withdrawn.
Saraki said, “I was surprised because
the security aides were supported by law. Even those attached to me in
Abuja have also been withdrawn. It is that bad.”
Baraje also said, “Yes, it is true. My
security aides have been withdrawn. I don’t know why that was done. So,
if anything happens to me, you need not ask where it came from. My life
is in danger.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Nigerian police should have done this earlier enough than now . What do people call democracy? Is it insulting and spiting at the nation`s President indirectly through his party? It does not have to end in police sealing off the secretariat , the criminals have to be arrested and made to face the law because INEC did not register PDP as parties rather a party . Presently INEC recognizes Dr. Tukur as the National chairman of the party and some idiots are somewhere causing problems . Those thieves should go to their respective homes and wait for the day Nigerians will call them to come and give account of their dirty past .
ReplyDeleteIf these guys are tired of PDP,they should decamp once and for all instead of factionalising a single party. Power mongers.....Biodun
ReplyDeleteMay God deliever us in this country.....all this people are only fighting for there pocket not for the masses...you are in one party once a Governor, VP etc what u have is not enought u went ahead to form anoder party what can we call that one? Even those peple forming anoder party what they are fighting for is there pocket not for the masses what they we capitalise on is that PDP has rule for 14yrs and it will take them some yrs to renovate what PDP has spoil they we not do anytin that means we are back to square one...i pray for them to win and u we see what am saying ..thats frm frypan to fire....
ReplyDeleteIf you are saying what the police have done is the right thing to do, why can't the same police seal off Jonah Jang's facion secretariat of the governor's forum? I simply can't see any difference in the two scenerio. In this case, it is simply an abuse of power and nothing more. I'm totally against the police I G lately. He has turned himself into a pawn that is used to intimidate and harras. IG Abubakar, do the right thing even if it means you losing your job - good name is better than riches!
ReplyDeleteWhy not decamp to another party instead of deciving yourselfs
ReplyDeleteWhy can't they decamp to another party or better still form another
ReplyDeletepoliticians with no future.I think APC will even reject them bc no space for such idiots.All the seven gov are in their second term thats why they are looking for cheap recognition
ReplyDeleteCriminal-cum-NEW PDP, pls leave PDP for Ur greed infected APC & wait till 2015 to see if Nigerians want U guys or not.
ReplyDeleteA house divided against itself cannot stand. PDP should either address its internal wrangling crisis or packup. We don't need this kind of display of cowardice.Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteBoth PDPs ar full of criminals,wat did Atiku achieve as VP?wat ar Oyinlola's achievements as Gov of Osun state?same goes to Baraje.....all fightin for their pockets and cheap relevance.God wl judge u all according to ur deeds
ReplyDeleteNigeria seems to be operating under Military Powers instead of practicing true democracy and obedience to the rule of law.We need to learn more democratic lessons by holding workshops to educate ouselves instead of ingaging in a show of shame.
ReplyDeleteIf they want to be relevant they should decamp and move to another party
ReplyDeleteYou cannot eat your cake and have it
They are all lucky that GEJ is a very civilised President Trt this rubbish during Obj, your villages will be history as he will attack all of them to their hometowns
Who is Atiku and Oyimlola Greedy people who will not see peace as long as they cause confusion
Intel in PH is owned by Atiku if GEJ shakes that place a bit Atiku will abandon the Seven Governors
They are all interested in their pocket
Shameless faction
Johnson
FOR THOSE CONDEMIN MY VIEW,,,, WE ALL NEED A CHANGE,,,,BUT WHO WILL BRING THAT CHANGE ??????? IS DEFINATELY NOT THOSE WHO THREATEN THAT THE NATION WILL BE UNGOVERNABLE...
ReplyDelete((Since then we continue to spend billions ment for developing Nigeria on fighting BOKO-HARAM,, Same people have been going around reporting GEJ to former Criminals,,
Using Rotimi to create more problem in Rivers))) There Only aim Is that They believe they should be there not GEJ,
(and that has cost us over 6,000 life's, using Boko,H))) WHY CAN'T WE NIGERIANS SEE BEYOND OUR NOSE ?????
WHY ARE WE SO QUICK TO CONDEMN ???? THIS MEN HOLDING MEETING ARE NOT DOING IT FOR THE INTEREST OF NIGERIANS, LET SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT,, THERE IS NO ANGEL IN POLITICS,,,, AM NOT A TRIBALIST AND GOD WILL NOT LET ME BE,,, MY YORUBA BROTHER'S. LET DROP THIS SENTIMENT.
EMEX! U drink ogogoro? Wetin concern Yoruba with Baraje and his new PDP? Abeg cut off ur fingers if U no get useful text to type. MUMU!
ReplyDeleteThis action is commendable. These rascals want to eat their cake and have it. If they find PDP no longer suitable for their greed they should decamp to another party as did by Okorocha who decamped to APC tablet instead of breaking APGA. Let the treatment be messier as the black man hears through the skin rather than the ear via bulala. GEJ please use your power to subdue these animals who are just fighting for their pockets not for the masses. Do not restore their security details or give them privileges they thought are their rights.GEJ Fight them to stand still.
ReplyDelete