 |
Mohammed Abubakar
|
Internal dissensions are taking their toll on the strength
of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the security of members is increasingly
becoming the victim. From the poor financial position of its national
secretariat to division and squabbles within its state chapters, the troubles
of PDP seem to be present everywhere.
At the weekend, it emerged that the PDP national secretariat
had a premonition of Monday’s attack by armed thugs on the Ogun State
secretariat of the party in Abeokuta, and actually sought protection from the
police, which refused the request for extra security.
The Senator Oladipo Odujinrin-led executive of the party,
which is loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and recognised by the
national headquarters, had penultimate Friday taken over the state secretariat
from the Chief Adebayo Dayo-led executive. But on Monday placard-carrying
members from the different local government areas of the state, suspected to be
instigated by another faction of the party, stormed the secretariat to protest
the takeover. They were countered by an armed group that invaded the state
secretariat.
However, a memo dated August 27, 2012, signed by the PDP
National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, which was available to THISDAY,
showed that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Muhammad Dikko, turned down
the party’s request for additional police protection for the Ogun State chapter.
The letter to the IG from the national secretary, with
reference PDP/N5/08.12, titled, “Occupation of the Ogun State Secretariat of
the PDP,” read, “Further to my last correspondence to you notifying you of the
recognition of a new state executive committee of the PDP in Ogun State by the
National Secretariat, I wish to inform you that the new executive committee
headed by Senator Dipo Odujinrin is the body that should legitimately occupy
the state secretariat of the PDP in
Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“Accordingly, I should be most grateful for your assisting
the Odujinrin-led executive committee to take effective possession of the PDP
secretariat in Ogun State for its operation as the validly recognised body that
is administering the PDP in Ogun State.
“Your directive for the compliance to the Commissioner of
Police, Ogun State Police Command, would be deeply appreciated in order to
allow for peace and orderly conduct at the state PDP secretariat.”
A presidency source, however, told THISDAY that the IG did
not heed the request, rather he directed the Commissioner of Police in the
state to advise him on the line of action to take.
It was, apparently, due to the security lapse at the
secretariat that the armed hoodlums took over the premises, THISDAY gathered.
Another letter by Oyinlola to the IG, dated July 31, 2012,
and titled, “Request for Adequate Police Protection to the National Vice
Chairman, South-south at No. 1 Orisejobor Street, Otovwodo, Ughelli, Delta
State, and Orderly,” was also turned down. No reason was given for the
rejection.
The PDP national secretary’s letter seeking police security
for the party’s vice chairman read, “The Inspector General of Police is
earnestly requested to, please, consider and authorise the release of police
security to the National Vice Chairman South-south PDP, Dr. Stephen Orise Oru,
in his residence at No 1 Orise Jobor Street, Otovwodo, Ughelli, Delta State,
and orderly with full security to shuttle between Delta State and Port Harcourt
in River State, the zonal headquarters.
“Consequently, I request your continuous gesture and
assistance to the members of the National Working Committee and the PDP in
general in view of the current security challenges.”
The request was not granted.
According to a source, “This is not a sign of good things in
the party, as in the past, the police would quickly accede to the request of
the party, immediately on asking.”
An NWC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented
the attack at the Ogun State PDP office, saying, “If there was a police
protection as requested, the armed hoodlums would not have taken over the party
office.”
PDP had also been refused security beef-up at its national
secretariat at Wadata Plaza. When the present National Working Committee led by
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur assumed office, the national secretary, Oyinlola, wrote a
letter to then Minister of Defence, Dr. Harilu Bello Mohammed, requesting that
an Armoured Personnel Carrier be stationed in front of the national secretariat
of the party to reinforce security at the headquarters, but the request was
disallowed.
No comments:
Post a Comment