The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary; Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, spoke to pressmen on Monday in Abuja, where he criticized the demolition of the party’s Borno State Chapter Secretariat on the order of the state governor; Alhaji Kashim Shettima.
Ologbondiyan stated that the move by the governor is against the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Therefore, an insult on the nation’s democracy.
He said that the PDP secretariat which was located along Dandal Way in Maiduguri, Borno state was demolished on Sunday, January 21, on the instruction of the state government as a plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cling to power.
“It is already in the public domain that the APC government in Borno state, for fear of the increasing popularity of the PDP, had mounted pressure on the owner of the building to eject our party.
“Frustrated by the refusal of the landlord, the governor issued a revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy on the property.
“He immediately instructed the agents of his government to demolish a house belonging to a citizen without any authorization of a court of competent jurisdiction”.
Ologbondiyan also informed the pressmen that the party had directed its Borno state chapter to immediately seek redress in the court of law.
“We shall explore all processes within a democracy to ensure that Governor Shetima rebuilds the house, and that his government is made to face the spirit and letters of the law.
“The PDP wants peace but not at the expense of direct violation of the nation’s democratic tenets and principles, which we successfully nourished and nurtured in our 16 years in office’’.
The spokesman described the persecution, arrests, detention and trial of opposition members as well as perceived opponents of government, including innocent business concerns as a grand plot to discredit and stifle opposition in Nigeria.
“Nigerians have not forgotten the political tension created in PDP strongholds in various states, including the recent attacks on our members, such as the attack on those holding a lawful meeting in Idanre, Ondo state.
“Also, the increasing unwarranted attacks by security forces on journalists, media houses and other well-meaning Nigerians carrying out their legitimate duties’’.
These attacks according to Ologbondiyan were carried out because the people hold different opinions from that of the ruling party interests. And, also because the ruling party has realised that its chances of winning the 2019 elections is getting slimmer by the day, hence, the physical attacks on PDP members and offices.
Ologbondiyan called on all Nigerians home and abroad to join the party to collectively condemn the action. He charged party members to be at alert, stay calm and to continue to work with party leaders at all levels.
