For the past two years when leadership crisis engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its national secretariat –Wadata Plaza, in Abuja, was a shadow of itself. With the dispute settled by the Supreme Court, last week, EMEKA NZE wonders whether the once bustling party secretariat will return to its former life of fl urry of socio-political activities
Before the leadership crisis Wadata Plaza, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters, located at the Michael Okpara Street, Zone 5 Abuja, was usually a beehive of activities. It was a Mecca of some sort to politicians striving to aquire power or to retain it or both. It played host to the high and mighty and became a major landmark in Abuja. It was also a place for those in search of contract, jobs, in connections to be elevated. Th e moment the nod of the major party executive is given, it is considered that one already has whatever he or she is craving for. From the heydays of the PDP as a party in power even to the time when it was roundly defeated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election, it remained so and petty businesses fl ourished until the leadership crisis set in. Days of Adamu Muazu as national chairman Precisely, when the former Governor of Bauchi state Adamu Muazu, also the former chairman resigned, activities to replace him geared up leading to a step up in activities and through presidential maneuvering , Prince Uche Secondus, a South South became the Acting National chairman and the leadership tussle reared its head with elements from the North east threatening hail and brimstone should Secondus not relinquish the position.
Th e benefi ciary of that clamour was Senator Ali Modu Sheriff , former governor of Borno state who emerged at a National Executive Council meeting in controversial circumstances. Sheriff polarised PDP Th e emergence of Sheriff polarised the party but the forces that brought were hell bent until the silver lining that he was going to perpetuate himself in offi ce became clear. Matters reached a crescendo at the Port Harcourt National Convention when the man succeeding Secondus, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff a replacement for Muazu became very unwilling to leave offi ce when his time elapsed, became insistent to be the parallel national chairman against the Senator Ahmed Makarfi led National Caretaker Committee (NCC).
As the duo of Makarfi and Sheriff struggled to take control of PDP, the police sealed off the secretariat on Makarfi : Will Wadata plaza bustle again? As the duo of Makarfi and Sheriff struggled to take control of PDP, the police sealed off the secretariat on May 22, 2016, ostensibly to maintain law and order and kept vigilance at Wadata Plaza Makarfi May 22, 2016, ostensibly to maintain law and order and kept vigilance at Wadata Plaza. Nigerians who watched with keen interest began to read meanings to it. Most of them who were already used to the APC /PDP hostility attributed the sealing to party in power.
The melee When the police fi nally opened the offi ce in the melee, Nigerians were not spared with the drama when we either the Sheriff faction will sack Makarfi faction or vice versa and this continue until the police did a fi nal sealing to avert break down of law and order. Wadata Plaza as ghost building From then, Wadata Plaza became a ghost building playing host to only reptiles, rats and rodents. For over fi ve months activities in the building were crippled with only a few security personnel police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and private security manning the place. Th e worst aff ected were the petty businesses that thrived around the environs, they suff ered serious setbacks due to lack of patronage forcing many of them to relocate or die untimely death.
Th e danger was worsened when shrubs and overgrown trees sprout in the neighbourhood which paved way for snakes and other creeping things. To further worsen the matter, there was no light in the whole plaza. Once upon a time, a security personnel told this reporter that a snake was killed one of the nights sighted with the ray of light from the opposite building, a bank. While the period lasted, both the Makarfi and Sheriff factions were operating from diff erent offi ces. Makarfi operated from what he called the House of Reps Caucus offi ce at 13 Th eba Saka Street Wuse 2, while Sheriff operated from his airline offi ce at 21 Gana Street Maitama. Movements of party faithful, depending on the divide members owe their allegiance, were directed to these offi ces and actions shifted to the areas. Appeal Court Th e Appeal Court verdict which favoured Sheriff and his supporters changed the tide of events as the then national chairman resumed operation at the Wadata Plaza. But since his supporters were few and the PDP administrative workers had resolved to stand with Makarfi , the tempo of activities did not substantially pick up and so many people waited for the Supreme Court pronouncement.
Today, activities at the Wadata Plaza is gradually normalising right from July 12, when the Supreme Court gave judgement in favour of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC). Although Makarfi has not offi cially resumed duties at the plaza, however promising that he would do so on Monday, many of the workers as well as party faithful are beginning to throng the offi ce of former ruling party ushering in hope that PDP will likely rise again. But the question on the lips of keen observers is: Will Wadata Plaza fl ourish again?
