Prince Uche Secondus, the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been dismissed from the party and is no longer allowed to speak or participate in party business, according to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
In Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers state, at the Aluu-Omagwa event on Saturday, Wike made this declaration.
The governor was criticizing Wike for promising to tell Rivers voters how to cast their ballots in the upcoming presidential election in response to Secondus’ assertion that no one has the authority to impose a presidential candidate on the electorate in Rivers.
Wike said,
“A former member of our party, Uche Secondus, said no one man can impose a presidential candidate on Rivers people. He is not a member of our party. His ward (in Andoni, Rivers) expelled him from the party. The court confirmed it.
“He (Secondus) went to Court of Appeal, he lost. He went to Supreme Court, the matter is coming up on October 23, 2023. I told him, you will not be national chairman to conduct the convention. Did he conduct it? Was he at the national convention?
“Up until now, you are not a member of our party. And in any case, I never said I was going to impose my candidate on Rivers people. I said I was going to tell Rivers people who I am going to support, who I am going to campaign for. But don’t blame them, when you didn’t finish secondary school, you will not understand the grammar.
“So, Mr. Secondus, I have no problem with you being technical adviser to Atiku. But don’t speak on behalf of the PDP, Rivers State because you are not a member of our party.”
When he took control of the Rivers PDP structures in 2013, Wike boasted about upsetting and dominating so-called Abuja politicians with Rivers ties. He added, “What most of you didn’t realize is that all these guys that ran away to Abuja have never worked with us. I was the team leader who removed them from office in 2007. Yes, I don’t apologize for that.
“In 2014, in spite the fact I was the one who fought for the structure of the party, most of them sabotaged me at the back to run for governor against me. When they saw there was not hope, there was nothing else for them to do, they had no choice but to come and join us.”
Governor Wike claimed that Secondus’ unpleasant involvement in 2019 and reported propensity to drop projects that were given to him are the reasons Rivers residents can’t trust him.
He said,
“Ask him (Secondus) what happened when the military took over, when the NRC was in power, Ada George was the governor of the State. Ask him, what happened at Ohamini Road. Why was he told to frog jump. Who flogged him? Colonel Akubundu (Rtd) who of course was the organising secretary, flogged him, why? He couldn’t do the project of the Ohamini Road.
“Ask him, from 1999, when Odili became governor, every project Dr. Odili gave to Andoni through him, ask him, which one was commissioned. Every company that the state government would pay money to, instead of you to allow the company to do the job, you’ll collect the money. That is why it’s difficult and why we have not been able to commission the Andoni aspect of the road,” Wike says.
