By: Oluwatosin Adesola
Online Media practitioners have paid sympathy visit to the Ondo State Peeoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership over its burnt Secretariat today.
The Association led by its Secretary, Mr. Temitope Adedeji met the State Working Committee members of the Party under the mango tree where they were holding their meeting after the inferno.
Adedeji said the Association was on a sympathy visit to the Secretariat to identify and sympathize with the party over the unfortunate burning of its Secretariat and to also have on-the-spot assessment of the incident.
SUNSHINETRUTH learnt that on getting to the premises of the burnt state Secretariat of the main opposition party, the State Executives of the PDP led by the Chairman, Hon. Fatai Adams were seen holding meeting under a tree as there is no office to conduct the party’s affairs.
Other members of the State Working Committee who were present at the Secretariat are the State Deputy Chairman, Apostle Tola Alabere, the State Secretary Barr.Oluseye Olujimi, State- Vice Chairmen, for Ondo Central, North and South, Hon. Dayo Awude, Hon. Bobby Omotosho and.Elder Fatope respectively.
Others include the State Women Leader Hon.Kemi Adesanya, State Youth Leader Mr. Folorunsho Makinde, State Financial Secretary Hon. Boluwaji Bamidele, State Legal Officer Barr. Awofade and the State Organising Secretary Mr. Dare Akinwale as well as the State acting Director of Media and publicity, Leye Igbabo.
Receiving the online journalists at the premises of the burnt party’s Secretariat, the State PDP Chairman, Hon. Fatai Adams thanked them for identifying with the party at this trying moment describing the attack on the Secretariat as ill-considered and shocking.
Adams appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to assist the party in rebuilding the Secretariat.
He also opined that only in the midst of peace would a state move forward while condemning the destructive attack.
Adams commended Journalists in the state for a balanced reportage during the outbreak of the crisis and assured of the party’s ready to always identify with the Media.
“Gentlemen, you have seen the level of damage done here. The attack on our Secretariat was ill-considered and really shocking”.
Continuing, Adams said “there was no reason for that at all. We were not the ones responsible for police brutality, they packed out all our office furniture before setting them on fire. They did not see anything incriminating there, we did not hoard palliatives and wondered why they could still go ahead to set the the Secretariat ablaze”.
“Our 30 seater coaster bus and other vehicles belonging to party members and security attached to the Secretariat were all burnt to ashes. Those who kept their wares at the Secretariat are still counting their losses. They did not leave a pin for us. We are utterly shocked and pained by this mindless and irresponsible act” Adams lamented.
The State Chairman however used the opportunity to solicit help from well-meaning Nigerians in order to rebuild the burnt Secretariat. “You can see that we are having the State Working Committee meeting under the mango tree now. We have no offices for that again. We are not in government ,we do not receive grant or subvention from any quarters. We run the Secretariat through personal sacrifice and sometimes, donations from generous party members”.
“The losses here are huge and cannot just be covered by these paltry donations. I am calling on well-meaning Nigerians to come to our aid,” the PDP Chairman concluded.
Earlier, the leader of the group, Temitope Adedeji said “Mr. Chairman sir, we have assessed the situation and we have seen that the losses are very huge. We cannot but appreciate your display of uncommon maturity in the face of this unprovoked attack”.
“We feel your pains and we deem it fit to sympathize and empathize with the leaders and members of the party. We will continue to appeal to the party to maintain and sustain the calm so as to allow peace reign supreme. We are trusting God to send help to your party as quickly as possible,” Adedeji said.