The newly elected National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, speaks with OLUSOLA FABIYI on the party’s plan to regain power in 2019 and how he will lead the party for the next four years

How would you describe your victory at the national convention?

I believe that the victory is for all the members of the party, including all those that contested. My conviction is that there is no victor and there is no vanquished. It was a family affair.



Were you thinking of winning when you started the race?

That should be uppermost in anybody’s mind, especially those of us who were aspirants. Nobody goes into any contest with the hope of losing. First, I planned to win but I also had it in my mind that if I lost, I would support anyone that won. It was never do or die. I said it clearly. I have always been a team player. We all know that just like a match, a winner must emerge.

Some people are aggrieved as a result of the outcome of the convention. What mechanism do you have on the ground to pacify them and bring them on board?

The caretaker committee probably knew that there would be fallout and that was why it inaugurated a committee headed by the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to handle it. There are notable and respected men and women in the committee like Aminu Wali, Adamu Waziri, and others. Immediately after the convention, the committee started work, and it has been talking to all, especially the contestants who are not happy. I was briefed about the work of the committee on Tuesday. Apart from that, I have also taken a private step to visit other aspirants. I believe that they are loyal party members. They won’t move anywhere. They will stay with us. The main objective is to bring everybody into the fold and even win more membership. We will do that and we won’t rest until we achieve that goal.

Will that include those who have left the party?

Yes, that’s the responsibility of the committee. Our members must be brought back into the fold. Then we can fix Nigeria together. At this time, you know that the country is not working. We don’t want Nigeria to be disintegrated. The Peoples Democratic Party remains the only party that can unite Nigerians.

Is there any guarantee that those who left the party like the former governors are ready to return?

We have faith that they would return.



There are pictures that you took with the Senate President (Dr. Bukola Saraki), and some senators, which are currently trending now. Were they taken after you emerged as the national chairman?

No, they were taken before the convention. We met at an event, which was held at Transcorp Hilton. Maybe some of your colleagues (journalists) were there and they took the pictures. It was just a coincidence that we met. We aren’t enemies anyway.

Would you approach Saraki and others to ask them to return to the PDP?

We would be making more serious moves to meet with very senior citizens of this country. We won’t leave anyone behind in our desire to invigorate the party.

What are the new things you are bringing to the running of the party in order to reposition it ahead of 2019?

We would make sure that those who are there now are not going to leave. The Reconciliation Committee is talking to everyone, especially those who contested and lost. That is the first step in the rebuilding process. The second step is that we have promised that we would devolve power to the state chapters and zones of the party. The constituencies and other zonal offices will have input in the running of the party. Abuja is too far from some of the constituencies and that’s why we are giving more powers to the state chapters to handle some of the issues at their own level. They need to be more involved. Even at the ward level, we will give them more powers. The party belongs to Nigerians and therefore, let them have a say in its running and also take responsibilities. That is rebuilding and repositioning. We are getting set for the elections.

So, the devolution of powers will start from the party?

It has started already.

Does that mean that if your party wins the presidential election in 2019, devolution of powers will take place at the centre?

It is a different ball game. This is what we want to do and are doing at the party level. We are not talking about the government yet. These people at the ward level determine who become the president and all that. It is important for them to participate in the running of the party. We don’t want the issue of imposition and impunity. We want to eradicate that totally. We want them to determine who represents them. When they participate in the running of their political party, they are happier. Then we would have a reward system for them. When people participate, defend their votes and are useful to the party, they would be rewarded. We will jettison the old order, whereby people in Abuja will hijack the rewards of those who have delivered their constituencies. So, our devolution of power has nothing to do with the government at the centre. It is a party system in order to mobilise our members for the task ahead. Those in the government like the Presidency, the members of the National Assembly and the governors would be expected to handle devolution of power at the centre.

Going by the history of the party and the outcome of the convention, some people are saying that the powers of the governors should be curbed. Do you agree with such people?

The governors are strategic stakeholders of this party. So, I don’t know what these people are saying. Power or no power, there are various levels of this party. At the national level, we have the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee and they (the governors) are all members. At the Board of Trustees level, only a few of them are members, maybe someone like the chairman of the Governors’ Forum (is a member). These are the structures of the party. But the governors are state leaders of the party. There is nothing anyone can do to take the governors away. They have the powers of leadership at the state level. No administration will say it wants to ignore the governors because they are critical in both the party and at the state administration. How can anybody ignore their critical roles? We would not (do that). Those who are saying that don’t know the inner workings of the party.

The ‘Unity list’ caused an uproar at the convention. How did it find its way there and from whom?

I don’t know what you mean by ‘Unity list.’ I believe that every aspirant must have aligned themselves with several people across the country. There is nothing new in having a list. It has happened on many occasions. If I’m from Rivers State and I have friends, I must have lobbied and asked for votes from the Kano State chapter, for example, and they must have been given some positions as well; we have to listen to one another. We must give ourselves some lists. There is nothing wrong with the list. The list is not an imposition. I’m quite sure that there were three types of lists at the convention ground. The Prof. Wale Adeniran-led group had one and my group also had one. This is because we all lobbied and canvassed for votes and we aligned ourselves for various offices. In our group within the party, we shared positions. Adeniran’s group also had its own list. Others also had. The way you described the ‘Unity list’ was like we had only one list and that it was compulsory for all the delegates to vote for those on the list. That’s not correct. People were free to vote for candidates of their choice. Names of candidates were displayed. Delegates were allowed to make choices.

How expensive was it to contest the office of the national chairman?

I don’t know because, if you move to Kano, you must go by road or by air. So, money must be spent. We didn’t give money to anyone. This was the first time contestants moved round the country, talking to delegates. Radio, television and newspaper adverts were also used. These are expenses we incurred. No one can deny that monies were spent. All the contestants spent money, but it was specifically for logistics, adverts, transportation, accommodation and media.

Bribes for delegates as well?

No money was given to any delegates. Let anybody that received money come out and say so. In politics, people just sit back and imagine anything. Don’t also forget that people, especially in opposition, are not happy that we were able to hold a successful convention. But we are not going to be distracted by that. We are going to be focused and take our responsibilities seriously.

The party will soon begin a search for its presidential candidate, what kind of person are you going to be looking out for?

We want a President that must unite the country. There must be peace before you can govern. You can see that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government is totally broken. For peace to reign, we need to change it. There is no peace in the North-East, there is restiveness in the South-South and the South–East, herdsmen are killing people in the North-Central and even South-West every day, and there is no part of the country that is safe. We need a person that will, therefore, unite the country. Under the APC’s watch, the unity of the country is threatened. We will provide a credible platform for national unity.

The presidential ticket is zoned to the North. Is the party looking at any of the three geo-political zones there for the candidate?

No, it is open to all the zones. It is not the right of the opposition to come and tell us where our candidate should come from. The opposition tried this in our convention when it attempted to micro-zone the office of the national chairman and it failed.

What will be the criteria for picking your presidential candidate?

The guidelines will determine that. We will follow the guidelines. So, it is open to everybody and those that are coming.

The party seems to be in crisis in the South-West because there are so many factions there, especially in some states. How do you plan to resolve this?

Part of the responsibilities of the reconciliation committee is to handle what you have just said. By the grace of God, I think apart from one or two states, there is peace in the others. Reconciliation is a continuous process and I can tell you that very soon, that will be resolved.

With what is on the ground, are you sure that the party will win in the South-West in 2019?

We are going to work hard to win in all the zones. The South-West will get juicy positions in the government if we win and we hope to win. I will not say anything more than that.






https://punchng.com/south-west-will-get-juicy-positions-in-pdp-govt-secondus-partys-national-chairman/

DBHFGGHM

This is a great move Mr Chairman.

Sir, we are positive that your emergency is for grater purpose and i have no fear that you will discharge your duty very well without being bias.

equal rights to all

Good move, Mr Chairman. Reconciliation is key to collective victory.
#TotalChairman.

He has said he will work with everyone in the party and that know body is left out when making decisions, the youth will be fully engaged in the activities of the party.

#TotalChaiman

This Man forget to tell us about the $10000 he distributed to delegates to be voted for...

Stories for pigs and idiots. Keep your juicy or alomo bitters positions to yourselves. Yorubas and SW wants none of your killer party's overtures.

Nonsense.

slivertongue:
equal rights to all

That's the spirit BRO. Onward Together.

i suppose you saw the money right? you need not masturbate over another man's wife.

Nogodye:
This Man forget to tell us about the $10000 he distributed to delegates to be voted for...

GavelSlam:
Many that supported Ipob just recently are the same ones supporting PDP today.

You mean no more nsala?

Nsala with Atichukwu's dîck looking like a lollipop?

Mba noo.

We shall remember Nsala when Atichukwu's dîck looses it's erection and go limp.

nonesense.....we cant wait to show them again that we hate them.....

DonVikings:
Nsala with Atichukwu's dîck looking like a lollipop?

Mba noo.

We shall remember Nsala when Atichukwu's dîck looses it's erection and go limp.

walahi...we will finish them off....let them keep making noise online....

SMH... speak for yourself and stop generalizing comments.
as far as i know, Otunba Gbenga Daniels, Jimi Agbaje, Rasheed Ladoja have all promised to work with the Chairman.

DonVikings:
Stories for pigs and idiots. Keep your juicy or alomo bitters positions to yourselves. Yorubas and SW wants none of your killer party's overtures.

Nonsense.

if alll the past chairmen has been towing this path PDP wont have been chased out of Aso Rock. lets appreciate mr chairman for this promise.

Cjrane2:
Secondus BECAREFUL!

This is Jonathan's mistake of appeasement being repeated all over again. You alienate your base to please strange bedfellows

Some people will still not support you even if you gave them all the positions and the projects. They are just that sad and mean.

kiiikikikiki...comedians.... ....

chaiiii...am laughing sooo hard right now....

It is not about a region getting juicy position all we want id good governance

Cjrane2:
Secondus BECAREFUL!

This is Jonathan's mistake of appeasement being repeated all over again. You alienate your base to please strange bedfellows

Some people will still not support you even if you gave them all the positions and the projects. They are just that sad and mean.

True talk, but don't you think he knows what he is doing, because he has being an acting chairman and has an eagles eye and have seen all before, so saying SW will get juicy positions means "Lets work together regardless of what has happened during the convention, we are one family" its now left for them to either take it or leave it. i don't think history will repeat itself again.

That is a good one from the National Chairman.

Every sane mind knows that it will be suicidal to marginalise any geopolitical zone in government and SW is a very key and strategic zone.

SW is PDP

onwugbenu:


True talk, but don't you think he knows what he is doing, because he has being an acting chairman and has an eagles eye and have seen all before, so saying SW will get juicy positions means "Lets work together regardless of what has happened during the convention, we are one family" its now left for them to either take it or leave it. i don't think history will repeat itself again.

work toghether my foot....awon barawo bansas fee dee fee...oleeeeeeeeeeees...!!!.....

oloriburukus...jatijati.....oloriberibes.....basstards.....

seems this one is cool with suffering n smiling syndrome.

DonVikings:
Stories for pigs and idiots. Keep your juicy or alomo bitters positions to yourselves. Yorubas and SW wants none of your killer party's overtures.

Nonsense.

Everything about this Satanic party is all about Juicy this, Juicy that...When they are not talking about Juicy Contract, it will be Juicy post, Juicy pvssy....

Good governance to them, takes back Stage!

.....very corrupt useless Party supported by the equally useless Never-do-well miscreants called ipob Pigs!

Tufiakwa!

tsdarkside:
chaiiii...am laughing sooo hard right now....

From SW are irrelevant , PDP does not need SW, what has SW done for PDP to SW will get juicy position…… Bros abeg Permit me to join you
www.nairaland.com/attachments/5107349_laughing_gif0d22801a92b58891626d06af55f62243

Nogodye:
This Man forget to tell us about the $10000 he distributed to delegates to be voted for...

Na waooo, where you hear this one again naaaaaaaaaa. chairman take am easy ooo make SARS no find you come say you accuse Chairman (Secondus) say e spend $1000 cause i know see oooo.

Ok

GavelSlam:


It never has never will be .

IPOB = PDP

tell them....lets see how they wan convince us till next elections to vote that useless and nonesense party again....import everything ba..??

boko doesnt matter so long they are okay in their villas ba....?

let them come and try us......