Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Adamu Mua’zu, has not resumed normal office hours at the party’s headquarters in Wadata House in Abuja for the past four months.
The reason is not because of renovation work going on but that the contractor does not meet the taste of the former governor of Bauchi State.
Adamu Mu’azu
TheNiche learnt that Julius Berger has been called in to dismantle the project and start all over again, even though N35 million was paid to the former construction company (name withheld).
Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Aliu Modibo, who has supervised the project since May this year, reportedly rejected the work done by the former contractor because of low quality which does not suit Mua’zu.
A PDP source said “it is quite unbelievable that such things are happening here. We are yet to know how much Julius Berger will charge; I am not in the know yet.
“I will find out, but I know that Julius Berger will not collect less than the former company. The amount will be outrageous, yet they keep telling us that there is no money here.
“If the rejected project costs N35 million you can imagine what the almighty Julius Berger will take.”
The offices of PDP National Vice Chairman, Uche Sekundus, and National Secretary, Wale Oladipo, are also up for renovation.
The building currently serves as a make shift office for visitors and journalists to access Mua’zu and other National Working Committee (NWC) members.
But some staff complain about the rent the PDP pays for Wadata House while its secretariat lies uncompleted in the same Abuja.
“It baffles me that the uncompleted building is not even being discussed when millions of naira is being dumped in a rented building,” one said.
The party also pays heavily for security in the temporary office because of the threat posed by Boko Haram.
The administrative section was forced to request additional police deployment and for Directorate of State Security (DSS) officers to cordon off the building.
Workers park their cars far away from the office.
Another issue tearing the NWC apart is the allegation that Mua’zu talks down on his colleagues.
“He respects no one as he addresses us with no respect,” the source lamented.
Mua’zu is said to be upset because the NWC allegedly embezzled the housing loan for the party’s staff.
“It is a messy situation,” the source added. “This whole issue began when the staff 2013 housing loan was misappropriated. Mua’zu was asked to provide another money, whereas the amount was released by his predecessor, Bamanga Tukur.
“Mua’zu refused to pay because he got to know that the money for 2013 is with the NWC. He agreed to pay the loan for 2014, but the staff are also asking for that of 2013. That is why they are having problems.”
