BEVERLY HILLS, May 26, (THEWILL) – The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has faulted the takeover of its secretariat by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This comes against the backdrop of the takeover of the secretariat located along Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar.
In a statement made available in Calabar, the Caretaker Chairman, Efiok Cobham, said the takeover of the secretariat was inciting.
Cobham, who is also a former Deputy Governor of the state, said the documents garnered over the years had been destroyed and the action by the APC amounted to criminal trespass as they had receipts of payment for the property.
His statement partly read: “This morning armed policemen cordoned off the Cross River State PDP secretariat at 42 Murtala Mohamed Highway, Calabar, and created cover for thugs from the Governor Ben Ayade faction of the APC to invade the PDP state secretariat with the intention of converting the property to the state secretariat of the APC. Currently properties of the PDP, especially vital documents and records of the party, that have been built up for over 20 years are either vandalised, destroyed or in the custody of Governor Ben Ayade.
“Members of the newly-constituted PDP State Caretaker Committee have been prevented from accessing the property by APC thugs and men of the Nigeria Police. The building is currently being painted in the colours of the APC.
“We vehemently protest this primitive invasion of the PDP secretariat by the APC on the instructions of Governor Ben Ayade. PDP has a subsisting tenancy over the property.
“We have the tenancy agreements and receipts evidencing payment of the rent for the current tenure in respect of the property. The lessor of the property has clarified that the tenancy of the PDP in respect of 42A Murtala Mohamed Highway is still subsisting.
“This invasion amounts to criminal trespass, malicious damage to property, and constitutes conduct likely to lead to a breach of the public peace. We are surprised that it is Governor Ayade, who has the constitutional responsibility, as chief security officer of the state, for maintaining law and order, who is promoting this type of dubious and vicious conduct. When the ordinary man on the street copies this behaviour and moves into any house or property that catches his fancy, including Governor Ayade’s newly acquired sprawling properties in Cross River State, we hope this will be taken as political fair game.
“The conduct of the APC is a new level of low in Nigerian politics. This action is inciting and vendetta driven. The PDP delivered the mandate of the people of Cross River State to Governor Ayade firstly as a Senator, and twice as Governor.
“While we respect Governor Ayade’s political choices, we state that he has no right to impede the peaceful conduct of the affairs of law-abiding citizens of Cross River State, including the organisation of any political party.”
He called on the leadership of the APC in Cross River State, and the national leadership of APC, to reject Governor Ayade’s infantile behaviour and allow the PDP the peaceful occupation and use of its property.
The party also demanded the return of all documents, property and equipment removed from the PDP secretariat by the APC.
He said: “We believe that President Buhari can encourage Governor Ayade to respect law and order and desist from conduct that further exacerbates the security situation in the country.:
According to him, the PDP in the state believed that Ayade was missing an opportunity by not acquiring a new building for his faction of the APC in the state.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
