Address of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus at the National Convention of the party being held in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. On October 6th and 7th , 2018

Protocols.


'Nigerians, take back your Country'!!!!



It is my pleasure and honour to welcome members of our great Party to this historic National Convention. About twenty years ago, our nascent Party, the Peoples Democratic Party gathered in the City of Jos, Plateau State, to discharge the historic burden of nominating a candidate for the 1999 elections.



In a keenly contested primaries, PDP laid the foundation of democracy by conducting a very transparent election.



On that foundation our Party restored democracy to Nigeria. We inherited a divided country ravaged by years of military rule and alienation by the international community.



For 16 years, we piloted the affairs of this nation without engaging in a needless blame game like we are currently witnessing. We rebuilt our foreign reserves. We paid off our London and Paris Club debt. We liberalized our economy, introduced reforms across public procurement, Banking, Insurance, Telecommunications and the Public Sector.



We solved our national pension crisis through contributory pension scheme. We built the infrastructure for fighting corruption through setting up the EFCC and ICPC.



We transformed our logo, the umbrella, to a national metaphor for inclusiveness. We reformed the electoral process leading to the unprecedented win by the opposition in 2015



Our defeat in 2015 enhanced and entrenched our democratic credentials as the Party of democrats. It also humbled us and renewed our zeal to rebuild our umbrella of inclusion and hope.



On December 11, 2017, in my acceptance speech, after you graciously elected the current National Working Committee, I solemnly promised; quote “that all necessary steps will be taken to avoid a repeat of our past mistakes. Indeed, we have learnt our lessons and by this convention, we are now set to forge a new path for our great party and Nigeria" unquote



Exactly ten months after that pledge, I can with gratitude to God and in utmost humility report to you that the PDP of today is improved, enhanced and has migrated from an opposition Party to a ruling Party in waiting.



Our reform package anchored on the three pillars of “Rebrand, Reposition to Regain” (3Rs) has been very successful with the first two almost accomplished while the last, the regaining of power is also at the verge of being realized.



In our methodical manner and consistent with our pledge, the PDP is now in control of the leadership in the National Assembly. An unprecedented feat in our country’s democratic experience.



The Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are with us here today.



The Governors of Benue, Sokoto and Kwara States are here with us today swelling the number of PDP controlled States.



The setting up of a Contact and Integration Committee led our Party to the ground-breaking working partnership with 40 other political parties under the umbrella known as Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).



I am happy to report to you that our reform process is on. It has yielded visible dividends. The reforms will transform our Party from a successful electoral vehicle to an Agenda Shaping Institution ready to provide modern, inclusive and transparent governance fit for the 21st century.



Today we are gathered in furtherance of the third R in our reform program Regaining of Power. This convention is a crucial step in our unstoppable march to Regain Power.



PDP is an organic Party. It is not a Special Purpose Vehicle. It will outlive this Primary election as it has weathered the storm as a ruling party and an opposition party.



It is the Party with institutional memory and owned by Nigerians. Our candidate selection through indirect primaries at all levels have been marked by transparency, peace, decorum and credibility.



Today’s primary election for the selection of the flag bearer of our renascent and reinvigorated Party will be organised in the most orderly, credible and transparent manner.



The convention committee Chairman and Governor of Delta State Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is a veteran of convention planning and a respected leader of our Party. Under his watch this convention will be a reference point for a long time.



Your Excellencies, dear delegates, as you must have been following developments in our country, since our last convention, you will agree with me that all is not well with our nation.



The situation in our country today is very disturbing as the ruling APC has progressively shown in all ramifications that it lacks the wherewithal to manage this country.



In my travels around the country I see the hopelessness on the faces of our people from Zamfara where the people are traumatised by violence and wanton killings to Benue where the people wake up every day not sure if that will be their last day. Across the land the story is the same


Poverty ravages our land as economic mismanagement and lack of clear direction has reduced Nigeria to the global warehouse of the poor and dispossessed.


Fear envelopes our country as a tyrannical government turns institutions of state against the people. Business men are afraid to invest. Foreign investors and capital have taken flight to safety.


APC has since found out that while propaganda and deceit can fraudulently take you to power it cannot help you in governance. Governance has never been this bad in our history.


The three main areas of APC campaign promise, Security, Corruption and Economy have been anything but successful.


They have continued to use their so-called fight against corruption as vehicle for witch hunt and political intimidation. The APC has become a safe haven and an asylum for underhand politicians.


Unfortunately, the anti-corruption agency, the EFCC, set up by the PDP administration to fight graft in the system has made itself a willing tool helping the ruling party to execute their dubious agenda.


This government use of the EFCC to hound and oppress perceived opponents is a new low in our democratic experience.


Under the APC administration, corruption has become so monumental that recent Transparency International (TI) report clearly captured it to be worse under their watch.


Our nation has never been divided like it is today. Ethnic inspired appointments have swept away the years of inclusion under the umbrella. Ethnic tension is at its highest, turning age-long issues into new frontiers of violence.


The death toll from avoidable deaths across the country ranks us among the top three nations in the Terrorism Index. Our famed culture of forgiveness and short memory of hate has given way to a new hate filled politics of division.


Our economy has stagnated. Joblessness is at embarrassing level unknown to our country in our recent history.


Poverty has risen exponentially, leaving our people disillusioned and despondent.


Our youths described as Lazy by the divisive APC government continue to escape through dangerous routes from our shores in large numbers.


Today I call on our country men and women to rise from the valley of hopelessness to the hilltop of a new beginning. The new PDP is rising from the creeks of the Niger Delta to the destroyed savannah of Borno to renew our nation pledge.


We shall defend our unity by including everybody in the running of the affairs of our country. We shall uphold the honor and glory of great Country by restoring our sense of national purpose and destiny.


PDP will secure Nigeria. We will end the carnage in the North East. We will stop the bloodletting whether by cattle rustlers or farmer and herdsmen conflict through a law and order approach.


PDP will educate our youths. Our numerous investments in education over the years in the Country and expansion of opportunities through increased capacity and private sector involvement in education will be reinvigorated.


PDP will reduce Poverty in the land. We will return Nigeria to the path of economic growth from the current stagnation. We will work with the private sector to expand economic opportunities and create jobs for our most valuable resource: The People.


We shall rebuild the middle class that has been decimated under the directionless government of the APC. We shall restore the Mortgage system we started years ago.


The lease financing market that was taking root under the PDP will return to ease the burden on the middle class. Interest rates will move to levels that will sustain the real economy under the PDP.

PDP will run a government of inclusion. Our umbrella will return as the shade for Nigerians from all walks of life. The growing feeling of marginalisation across the country will reduce with our policy of national inclusion.


Your Excellences, our delegates, it is necessary at this juncture to inform you that what happened in Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections this year merely corroborated our earlier intelligence that INEC, security agencies and the APC are working together to undermine our democracy.

International election observers from United States, European Union and the United Kingdom, after observing the charade that went on in Osun state governorship rerun, in a joint press conference expressed their worry at the role of security agents in elections and questioned their neutrality ahead of 2019.


Our fear therefore is that the disposition of the President and his party is such that free and fair election is not on their agenda for the 2019 election.

However, we shall, together with global partners, use every democratic means to ensure that the Federal Government adopts democratic norms in the conduct of elections going forward


I salute the people of Osun and Ekiti states for their vigilance, bravery and courage that helped to bring to the fore the fraudulent rigging template of the APC government ahead of 2019.

( Just on Friday I led the entire leadership of our party on a peaceful march to INEC and Police headquarters in Abuja to o register our displeasure on the roles of the two bodies in the Ekiti and Osun states and to drop enough is enough warning ahead of 2019. While INEC welcomed us and took our message. The Police on the instruction of the Inspector General brutalized us with teargas canisters. Protest is a component part of democracy and no amount of threat will stop it)


I want to assure the people of Ekiti and Osun states that PDP is not a violent party and would use the legal process to recover our stolen mandate


The international community must note that the APC led government and the President has the lowest job approval rating recorded in recent times. International analysts, banks, respected newspapers and magazines are united in the single view that Nigeria does not deserve this type of government.


Before I end this address may I appeal to you delegates to note that the choice you make today from among our eminently qualified aspirants each of whom has extraordinary record of leadership achievements will go a long away in rescuing our nation from the inept governance of the APC.

Nigerians and international community outside this arena are anxiously waiting for your choice because they expect you to chose one who will defeat President Buhari in 2019 and go further to rescue the Country.

May I again reiterate to our aspirants that this Presidential primary is going to be conducted in the most transparent manner to make it a past setter in Africa.

However when we have finished our roles as human beings we must submit our will to that of God who it is that is the ultimate decider and this should be our guide as we accept the result that comes out of this process.


The simple message from across Nigeria and the globe is: President Buhari, it is time to go.


PDP is returning to help Nigerians take back their country. We are returning to stabilize Nigeria, to unite a visibly fractured country. We are returning to create a new Nigeria where peace and justice would triumph and where rule of law and respect for human rights will prevail.


P-D-P Power to the People. Power to the People- P-D-P

Long live Federal republic of Nigeria.

Thank you all and God bless



Prince Uche Secondus

National Chairman

PDP, 2018

Hmmm Secondus !

What a name.

Beautiful speech

We need to get back our country,we deserve better.Vote PDP,Vote for a better government.

Lovely speech ...

Bravo!

Kastonkastroll:
Na wike dey press dis one button like toy

And so it shall be pressed into Aso Rock

Awol1:


And so it shall be pressed into Aso Rock

Secondus is always coming 2nd in everything his hand touches. No forget

Kastonkastroll:
Secondus is always coming 2nd in everything his hand touches. No forget

That he has come second in the past doesn't mean he will come second tomorrow

Kastonkastroll:
Secondus is always coming 2nd in everything his hand touches. No forget

but he became PDP national chairman by taking first position.

As I was saying.

The man know book small!
Far better than THAT APE CALLED OSHIOMOLE !

Better slogan: REBRAND, REPOSITION AND TO REGAIN!
Not that nasty APC noise: CHANGE! CHANGE! CHANGE!

PDP is returning to help Nigerians take back their country. We are returning to stabilize Nigeria, to unite a visibly fractured country. We are returning to create a new Nigeria where peace and justice would triumph and where rule of law and respect for human rights will prevail.

For the whole three years the dullard has been in office, No single
capital project! Not even one in his home state!.... What shall posterity remember the dullard for when he eventually leaves office? Killings, deaths, hardship, neglect, incompetency, corruption, unemployment, misuse of public funds, misuse of power, election rigging!


APC has deceived Nigerians!!!! Buhari has failed himself!!!


A wise man once said. . . "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me".

Nigerians are wiser now, we are retiring the dullard in 2019.


Power to D people!!!