National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen Ali Modu Sheriff yesterday took over control of the party’s national secretariat of the party, popularly called Wadata Plaza.
Sheriff entered the premises of the hitherto sealed the National Secretariat at exactly 6pm, accompanied by his major ally, Sen. Buruji Kashamu.
The national chairman, who spent 15mins at the premises, said he will formally resume office on Monday, adding that he had come to access the nature of repairs to be made.
Members of him National Working Committee (NWC) and associates had arrived 20 mins before he came. They include his deputy, Cairo Ojougboh, former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma, Bernard Mikko, National Auditor, Wole Adeyanju.
The popular Wadata Plaza was closed by security agents since June last year, in a bid to forestall a breakdown of law and order as supporters of the Sen Ahmed Makarfi-led PDP and Sheriff’s camp had almost clashed at the premises.
Sheriff had disclosed on Wednesday that the party national secretariat, would be reopened to him before Friday (today). He said all security agencies have been officially communicated about the court judgment.
On arrival at the Secretariat, yesterday, a carpenter was brought in to break the rusty keys to the gate and the entrance of the building before Sheriff could go in. Expectedly, dust and cobwebs were visible in the premises.
Addressing journalists shortly after taking over the office, Sheriff said, “we are here to assess the secretariat in the view of coming back on Monday. We want to see what kind of repairs we need to do. We will invite cleaners and others to clean the place and while they are on it, we will continue with our consultation.
“The Appeal Court victory is for everybody. We will carry everybody along. We want to see how we can bring everybody together. First and foremost, let the party come together, the party must go to the people.
“We don’t want situation where people are elected from Abuja. We will brief next week on our roadmap.”
It was however gathered that the keys to the party national secretariat are with the Board of Trustee Chairman, Sen. Walid Jibrin.
Source: Leadership
