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former Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party and frontline aspirant for PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus today storms Niger state to meet with National delegates from the state as part of his ongoing consultation tour.

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former Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party and frontline aspirant for PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus today storms plateau state to meet with National delegates from the state as part of his ongoing consultation tour.

Prince Uche Secondus, who is a contender for the office of the National Chairman of the PDP, speaks with OLUSOLA FABIYI on his plans for the party

How’s the campaign going?

We thank God. I have been moving in the last few weeks from zone to zone, state to state and by the special grace of God, we shall make it. Delegates have been listening to me and my campaign team. We have nothing to worry about. Since the past few weeks, we have being to all the zones in the country. My fate in the PDP has been further strengthened with the commitment of our members across the country.



The position of the national chairman is zoned to the entire southern part of the country, but there are those who say that the position should be micro-zoned to the South-West because of a peculiar problem. How do you react to this?

The position is zoned to the entire 17 states in the southern part of the country while the party equally zoned the presidential ticket to the entire 19 northern states. That was the decision of the national convention of the party and which was reinforced by the National Executive Committee. It is a misconception to say that it should be left for a zone. No, if we do that, we will be working against the directive of the party. We should not allow lawlessness in the party. The party says there is no micro-zoning.

Why are you in the race?

I’m in the race because I’m very experienced and I have what it takes to lead the party at this particular time. I was a party chairman before, I was a national organising secretary and deputy national chairman, and at one time, acting national chairman. I have been in the engine room of the party at the national headquarters before. I believe that I’m eminently qualified at this critical time to lead the party, especially when we just have a year to go into a national election. We don’t need someone who does not have experience. I have the skill and I have performed.

Is there anything you will do differently if elected?

Yes. I will take the party to the grass roots. The founding fathers wanted it to belong to all, but at some point, it was hijacked by a few people. We should take it back to the people. It is a party where all Nigerians can realise their political dreams. PDP remains the only party that nobody owns – it belongs to all. We will take it to the owners so that they can reclaim it. Then, we will do massive membership drive and I will introduce a new reward system.

What does that mean?

It is meant for the grass roots and not from the top. It is meant to acknowledge those who have helped the party to win elections at the lower level. If you call it patronage, that be it. If you have worked for the party, you will be recognised, and not because of the quality or size of the agbada you wear in Abuja.



What will you give them?

It you work hard and we win, you will benefit from appointments that will come to that area.

Some leaders from the North claimed that they are adopting the South-West for the chairmanship of the party. How do you react to this?

What I got from the news did not indicate that it came from the North. It was a group of individuals that support a particular candidate that gathered together and made the claim. It doesn’t make sense. You can see that they have been countered by the 19 state chairmen of the party from the North. These are the owners of the party at the state level and they have dissociated themselves from the claim. It is very clear that somebody was trying to play a trick on the people by claiming to be speaking for the North. People are wise and civilised. If you claimed to speak for a group, why didn’t you consult and carry them along? It is a fluke and I can tell you that it won’t stand. I commend the elders and state chairman of the party from the North for backing the position of the party by rejecting the claim of those who wanted to mislead the people.

Where is your support base?

I have support across the whole country. I have support from my zone as well because they say charity begins at home. I’m a loyal party man. If anybody wins, I will support the person and if I win, which I know will come to pass, I expect my fellow contestants to rally round me to lift the party. There is no desperation on my part. I have no other agenda.

Do you consider any of the aspirants as a threat?

Not at all! This is because some of them were my bosses before. Somebody like Chief Olabode George was my boss before. The others too, we have worked together before.

What’s your message to the delegates and co-aspirants?

For the co-aspirants, we should play by the rules and be decent. It is not time to pull down anybody. The delegates must vote for someone who relates well, someone who is humble and has experience, not arrogant, and who is ready to devolve power. My aim is to rebuild, reposition and regain lost ground.




http://punchng.com/i-want-to-rebuild-and-regain-lost-ground-secondus/

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former Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party and frontline aspirant for PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus today storms Oyo state to meet with National delegates from the state as part of his ongoing consultation tour.

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former Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party and frontline aspirant for PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus today storms Lagos state to meet with National delegates from the state as part of his ongoing consultation tour.

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Prince Uche Secondus, who is aspiring to be PDP National Chairman at the December 9 Elective National Convention met with Gov. Fayose and Ekiti delegates

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Prince Uche Secondus, who is aspiring to be PDP National Chairman at the December 9 Elective National Convention is currently meeting with Ogun state delegates.



cc:Lalasticlala

The chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 19 northern states and the FCT on Friday rejected suggestions that the National Chairmanship seat of the party be sub-zoned to a particular zone in the South.

The chairmen, who announced their stance after a meeting in Abuja, however, reaffirmed commitment to the zoning of two principal positions as agreed at the party’s National Convention in Port Harcourt last year.

Hassan Hyat, Chairman, Forum of PDP State Chairmen in the North, who addressed the press after the meeting, said that the forum “rejected any move to sub-zone the seat to any particular zone”.

“The position cannot be sub-zoned to a particular zone in the south because that will disenfranchise other contestants. We, as state chairmen, cannot be party to any micro-zoning.

“The party’s decision at the Port Harcourt Convention is final and binding on all. No one has the right to change or tamper with it,” Mr. Hyat declared.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party had zoned the office of the National Chairman to the South, and its ticket in the 2019 Presidential elections to the North.

Some interest groups have, however, suggested that the National Chairmanship seat be sub-zoned to the South-West, and premised their stance on the argument that the zone had never occupied the position.

A group of northern PDP elders recently re-echoed that stance and urged delegates from the north to vote for candidates from the South-West for the party’s top position at the PDP National Convention slated for Dec. 9.

But the Northern States Chairmen Forum, after deliberating on the development, resolved to reject such micro-zoning as proposed by such elders.


“The party’s decision is that all parts of the south should be given the opportunity to present their candidates so that delegates can choose the best material for the position of National Chairman.

“We stand by that position and and have resolved to reject any sub-zoning to a particular area,” the forum declared.
The forum further declared that zoning was a cardinal principle of the PDP and should “never be toyed with”.

“As the national convention gets closer, our stance on the zoning arrangement remains unshakeable. We believe that our party will only get stronger if we remain committed to it,” he said.

The forum urged delegates to assess candidates critically and vote on merit, and advised the contestants to be “temperate and civil” in the use of language.

“The party’s interest should be the principal guiding spirit. No other personal or group’s interest should be placed over it,” the group declared.
It urged members seeking positions to “understand that power comes from God” and be prepared to accept whoever God ordained to lead the PDP.

The group commended the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP for strengthening the party after its protracted crises, and expressed happiness that the PDP was growing stronger “every minute”.

It particularly expressed satisfaction with the attention the party was gaining nationwide, saying that recent defections to the fold was a testimony to its rising popularity.

On the expected return of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to the PDP, Mr. Hyat said that it was a “beautiful development”.


“Atiku is back and we are all happy to have him on board once again. We are going to receive even more defectors in the next few days. It only shows that our party is waxing stronger,” he said.

Mr. Hyat, however, rejected suggestions that the returnees would divide the PDP.
“The new comers will not divide the party. They will make us stronger. We need them to build a strong force to wrestle power from the APC,” he said.

NAN reports that the meeting was attended by 16 chairmen, while four sent representatives.
(NAN)

cc:Lalasticlala



https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/251205-pdp-chairmen-north-reject-zoning-national-chairmanship-south-west.html

Various groups and contending interests are jostling for vantage positions ahead of the National Convention of the People's Democratic Party coming up on 9 Dec. 2017.

The latest most obnoxious and objectionable plot is by some party Members from the North who have purportedly micro-zoned the National Chairmanship of the Party to the South-West in a bid to accord undue advantage to a preferred aspirant.

This is contrary to the agreed arrangement of the Party which has at no time been changed. This group of people lacks any authority or voice to speak on behalf of the North as a homogeneous entity and is therefore on its own.

Their action is hereby rejected and totally condemned. Majority of Members from the North dissociate themselves from this misadventure which potents unintended consequences if left unchallenged.

It is a slap on the face and an insult on the face of Southern Nigerian Politicians/Leaders that few Members from the North can sit down and determine who to elect.

While rejecting micro-zoning we affirm our belief in the sanctity of the larger, more inclusive arrangement which gave Southern Nigeria the position of National Chairman Of our great Party.

Party Members from the North pledge to support only a free and fair process where a new National Chairman will emerge regardless of which place he comes, so long as he is from any of the States that make up Southern Nigeria.

This decision is to forestall a situation where the action under scrutiny is used to deny certain section a shot at the offices as currently zoned through a dubious and undemocratic means of micro-zoning.

Finally, if the Party must reinvent itself as the true vanguard of democracy in Nigeria, it should not allow certain elements to hijack and abuse due process in the upcoming National Convention as this will only amount to going back to an inglorious past that we'll rather forget.


SIGNED
H.E Umaru Fintiri - Former Acting Governor, Former speaker Adamawa state
Hon. Sani Kutigi
Hon. Mohammed Imam - 2015 Borno state PDP Governorship Candidate

Thanks for your support.

onwugbenu:
regardless of the baseless blackmails being haled at Secondus he is still focus on the task ahead. indeed na Shiaman u be

#TotalChairman
#Secondus4PDP
#Secondus4PDPChairman

I appreciate your support.

PRYCE:
Secondus 4 Shiaman!

Signed & Sealed!

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has rubbished the allegations that Governor Nyesom Wike was sponsoring former acting National Chairrman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus to emerge the new national chairman of the party.

Publicity Secretary of the party in Rivers State, Mr Samuel Nwanosike, told newsmen yesterday, that the allegation was devoid of truth, stressing that the winner of the election would be determined by the delegates.


He said, “How would you bring Governor Nyesom Wike in the matter? Will he be the one to decide who the delegates from all parts of the country will vote for? No, that is not correct. The allegation is not correct.

“PDP is a political party that is trying to organize itself again. We will not go back to the days of impunity. You heard the former Vice President (Atiku Abubakar), said he left APC because the party is entrenched in impunity and impunity measures.

“We, having lost the 2015 presidential election, and knowing the pressure that has brought to us as a political party, cannot go back to that old order. On December 9, everybody should go and canvass for votes. It does not matter what anybody says. And all the aspirants have said after the election, they will support whoever emerges as chairman and build a formidable party,” he said.


cc:Lalasticlala


http://dailypost.ng/2017/12/01/pdp-chairmanship-wike-denies-sponsoring-secondus/

A South West group, the Oodua Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alliance, has thrown its weight behind Prince Uche Secondus as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement, leader of the group, who is also a leader of PDP in Osun state, Hakeem Ogunsola, said the Southwest had proved it is unprepared for the party’s leadership with the plethora of aspirants the zone is parading for the top post at the December 9 convention.

He declared: “The leadership of the party should go to the Southsouth, which is the main base of the PDP.

“We want to note that rebuilding the PDP and winning power back in 2019 demand a chairman with solid home base, deep experience and capacity to face the power of incumbency. We need Prince Secondus to lead the electoral and political battles to rescue Nigeria and change the fake change.”



“The Southwest does not need party chairmanship. If anything, we should rally round Prince Secondus and seek better offer in arrangement of national offices.

“How can you be going for chairmanship when there are better bargaining to strike? How can you hope to lead the party when your zone is not a stronghold of the PDP? How can you even be taken seriously when many of your aspirants carry heavy baggage? We don’t want party chairman in Southwest. Let Secondus have it.”

The group, which claimed to have members across the six south Western states, announced its resolve to mobilise the Yoruba axis of the PDP for Prince Secondus, describing the Rivers State politician as “tested, experienced and competent to lead the party.

“Secondus has party leadership experience nobody can rival. He has the boldness, the national recognition, the will and the passion to pilot the affairs of the party. He is the best to lead the party at this critical time.”


cc:Lalasticlala

http://thenationonlineng.net/south-west-group-backs-secondus-pdp-chair/

In this interview with EMMANUEL OLADESU, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairmanship aspirant Chief Uche Secondus says the opposition party will bounce back to power under his leadership, if elected at the national convention in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on December 9.

Before the Port Harcourt convention, you were eyeing the Deputy Chairman of the party. Suddenly, you are now eyeing the chairmanship. What has changed between then and now?

The truth is that by last year, I was gunning for the deputy. The arrangement was such that somebody from the South west will emerge as the chairman. That time, we had two and a half years to the general election. But now, we believe that we don’t have time. Therefore, we need an experienced person who knows that from the first day he will just start working.

The second reason is that, relatively, you need a zone where there may not be crisis and I believe that in my state and in my zone, we don’t have crisis within the party, unlike in other zones where they have some issues. I don’t want to go into details. These are some of the reasons I am volunteering myself for the position.



I have been in this party from day one. In fact, I can lay claim that I am also a foundation member of the party: I am well known. You will recall that, in 2015, for the first time in the history of this country, a civilian to civilian transition took place and it was peaceful. So, we are going into another phase that is very crucial within one year. So, we need an experienced person and I believe I can pride myself among all the aspirants as the most experienced.

Among those running from the Southwest, we have those who have been at the top level of the party before too. Are you saying they are not experienced?

Yes, we may have somebody who has been deputy chairman there. The advantage I have is that, I have acted as the National Chairman before.

The PDP is very strong in the Southsouth and the Southeast and there is need to woo the Southwest. With this development, won’t it create another crisis?

That is purely sentimental. In reality, if you want to win an election, you don’t start from the unknown. You begin with the known. Apart from the chairmanship, there are three or four major positions, if you are talking about zoning of the positions. Southwest is a very important zone in the country, if not the number one zone, if you like, in terms of intellectualism, media and so on. We know they have produced President. So, if you look at the president, vice president and the Senate President, these are key government positions. So, if you are talking also of what will benefit the people directly, you will see that with these three key positions, there is no way Southwest can be ignored; but we are down so we want to start from a safer place to move.

I will deliver my state during the elections. As the chairman, you must deliver your place first, since they say that charity begins at home. I will deliver my place and proceed to win other states and regions.



My agenda for the party will be based on 3Rs: Rebuild, Reposition and Regain. I will want to remain focused on it, in terms of building the party. As we are doing that, we do it together with the other two; repositioning in terms of membership, going digital and mostly emphasising on the youths, who are leaders of tomorrow. As we are doing that, we are enlarging our scope of convincing Nigerians that PDP remains the best option. We stand for national unity in diversity.

Our founding fathers believe that the PDP is a party that was founded on the ground of national unity. And it was good enough that the zoning is contained in our constitution so that regardless of where you are coming from, one day you can aspire to be the President of the country. I believe that taking the party back to the people is very important.

The general impression is that, if you become the national chairman, the Southwest would be considered for the vice presidency slot to really give APC the big fight…..

If I become the chairman, I will not look at the permutation of the APC on how to win election. I have a different strategy on how to win elections. So, it has to be about collective leadership position. Our first assignment is to determine who becomes our presidential candidate and the choice of the running mate will be the exclusive right of the candidate. So, we are not positioning that. We are not going to say it should come from here or from there.

Other aspirants are visible on the campaign field, but you are operating underground…

Well, I am strategic; but because others have not been in the party to know the inner workings of the party, they are doing otherwise. Don’t forget that it is not an open election. It is a delegate election, delegates and super delegates. Obviously, I’m strategic about this and I’m confident that if it is a delegate election, yes, it is good to carry the press and people along but the most important thing in this election is consultation. Why others are making presence in the media and all that, I will continue consultation with leaders of the party across the country trying to get their support. In places like America it is called endorsement but in Nigeria, if governors or the BOT endorse you, that is imposition. There are two things here. You need the super delegates to be on the same page with you. Let me not call it endorsement to avoid misinterpretation. So, that is how we’ve started. We are also time conscious. You can’t start what you cannot finish. You do a bit of ground work and practically, you need to step up and I can assure you that as we move on, you will see posters and all that. We have done a bit of ground work believing that we will have support of those we have contacted.

One of your co-aspirants, Professor Adeniran, has mentioned that Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the NCC Chairman, is aligning with you. There is also the feeling that some people within the party are not comfortable with the way you managed the resources of the party when you acted as its chairman. What do you have to say?

The rumour is more than the fact. This is Nigerian politics for you. Speculations and imaginations engulf most of our thinking. But, I believe that the media, especially the political editors, will do more findings than just headline news. There is no truth in it that Wike was drafted to do Makarfi’s bidding. I’m close to virtually all the governors, and I consulted all of them, including the BoT chairman.

Of a truth, I have never sat down with Makarfi on how to become chairman, all those are speculations and you know when someone is doing better than the others, those who are not doing what they suppose to do will always speculate and try to drag him down. This is a pull down syndrome. There is no iota of truth in it. I have no arrangement with Makarfi; no one is trying to impose me on people. I have been there before. I have contested as National Organising Secretary, I have contested for Deputy National Chairman, I acted as National Chairman of our party. These are records that you can cross check.

On the issue of what Mu’azu left, again, this is a calculated attempt to blackmail me by whosoever is behind it whether from within or outside, I don’t want to mention names. For anybody to say N9billion was missing or N9billion was left, it means that money was not even used for election. The money realised was about N11billion from sales of forms nationwide. And in our guideline and constitution, when you realise this money, it is shared among the local government, the state, the zonal and the national. Even by mere mention of N9billion means no money was given to them as I mentioned above. I want to plead with you to get into the secretariat, there is a Director of Finance, there is an acting Treasurer, go and find out the fact not taking blackmail or headline news from other people. These are sponsored by some people.

After the 30 percent was shared, you can do the mathematics yourself. Money was kept for completion of our national headquarters. There was no money at all that we met. Now, that money that was kept was about N5billion while Mua’zu was still the chairman. The truth is that, after we lost the presidential election, we could not raise the money for other elections. So the leaders looked and say that the money that was reserved should be used. I was still in Rivers State when the Chairman called all of us from our states and said they could not get money to disburse again. So, the Chairman disbursed the money. We came back and met some money – the N500million that was even in the bank was seized with BoT Chairman that was involved in fund raising. When they could not get their money back, the bank had to seize some money.

No money at all that was left that was to be accounted for. Let me tell you, I’ve been Chairman of PDP in Rivers State. I’ve not been found wanting. I’ve been National Organising Secretary, I raised the money in 2011 and I was not found wanting. If you recall, Taraba election was inconclusive. There was repeat election in Taraba, Imo and I think in Abia. All these were expenses of the party. By the time we returned, of course, Mu’azu gave us account of all money, all the money had been used apart from payment of salaries and a few things that we needed while the other balance was still in the bank. I challenge you to go to the Secretariat to get your figures accurately because I may not be accurate with figures. But no money was missing apart from N500million that the bank seized. The issue of missing N9billion is to misinform the people to change their mind against some of us that want to contest. When I appeared before the Senate caucus, on my own, I threw light on the alleged missing money. Some of them brought money to me but I rejected it and I said they should go and use the money for the election. I have been mentored to know that money destroys in politics.

What is your plan B as you prepare for the convention?

My plan B is to support anybody that wins that day. It can be me and I will be very glad and thank God. But, if someone else emerges, I will support him because I am a team player.

cc:Lalasticlala


http://thenationonlineng.net/secondus-ill-take-pdp-victory-2019/