Jos— A parallel Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat for Plateau State has been opened by a faction of the party believed to be loyal to the Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu,confirming earlier speculations of a plan by the group to take over the state office building of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
The former State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Habu Shindai supported by some top politicians known tohave worked with Senator Mantu during the period of the state of emergency declared the Vwarji-led executive which is recognized by the National Secretariat of the party as illegal.
Addressing a press conference at the former AD office building located in Dadin-Kowa area of Jos, Shindai said he was taking back his position as state chairman of the PDP because his removal was at variance with the constitution of the party explaining that he had waited calmly all these while, allowing the emergency period to pass, before fighting back.
According to him, "It might interest you to know that just before the declaration of the state of emergency,I went through various forms of unprovoked humiliation. All forms of tricks and manipulations were employed to unconstitutionally and illegally remove me from office as state chairman of our great party."He said he allowed maturity and good reason to prevail rather than take laws into his hands in the belief that two wrongs do not make a right, but that time had come to take his office back.
He added that although he was informed of his nomination as a commissioner by the state Governor, Chief JoshuaDariye, he turned down the offer, hence the nomination could not be a good ground to remove him as chairman."Now that democratic structures have been restored in the state, I have decided to assume office and performthe functions I was elected by all the party faithfuls in the state to perform", Alhaji Habu said.He said he decided to relocate the secretariat to what he called a new and more spacious one and directed other officers of the party to relocate to the office. "They should return at their desk withoutfurther delay. Those who fail to do so would be treated as saboteurs and would face the necessarydisciplinary action", he added.
He announced the suspension of former National Chairman of the party and elder statesman, ChiefSolomon Lar; the Governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande; state chairman of the PDP, Chief Maichibi Vwarji, the state Secretary Mr. Dalyop Bok and two others from the party for allegedly creating discord in the party.All the suspended people are known Dariye supporters who stood for his return as governor against theMantu-led group.But reacting to the action, state chairman of the party, Mr. Vwarji described Shindai as an impostorwondering why he had to go and open a new party office to reclaim his seat as chairman if he was well-intentioned. He also described the purported suspension of top members of the party as a huge joke that should not be taken seriously.
