From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Venatius Ikem, the suspended chairman of the Cross River State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), says his removal will have consequences for the party.
The suspended chairman, who is also the former national publicity secretary of the party, disclosed this in an interview in Calabar.
He insisted that his removal was purely political and is also a calculated attempt to embarrass him.
He also attributed his removal to power play orchestrated by the senator representing Cross River North in the national assembly, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.
He emphasised that he is not looking for a fight with anybody, but if he is pushed, he will definitely fight back.
“So all these things are being orchestrated by Senator Jarigbe for his own ego as the leader of the party.
“The party has no position like that; we flatter ourselves with all sorts of positions. Is it because the party is not in government?
“So if you are not looking for a fight and somebody brings a fight to you, what will you do if they push you against the wall? You’ll fight back.
“If they set up all this to embarrass me, no problem, but it has consequences,” he said.
He also attributed his removal to his relationship with the state deputy governor, Peter Odey, and also the PDP member representing Obudu, Bekwarra, and Obanliku in the House of Representatives, Hon. Peter Akpanke.
He insisted that he would play the kind of politics they wanted him to play by dissociating himself from his friends who were in another party
“They complain that the deputy governor has visited me too much and that the party members are complaining.
“So, for political reasons, I should not welcome the deputy governor, who has been my long-standing friend; he should not visit me because I am in another political party. No, I refuse to play that kind of politics.
“I don’t know if he (Senator Jarigbe) is not interacting with members of other political parties there in the Senate.
“Why will my interaction become suspicious? These are my crimes that will not be stated in the charge sheet because they are not offences known to the party,” he said.
He added that though he’s exhausted with the position, he’s consulting his lawyers and may challenge his suspension in court.
Meanwhile, Senator Jarigbe, in a statement made available in Calabar, has urged Venatius Ikem to abide by the party’s decision, remain loyal, and continue supporting the party.