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Tag: Uche Secondus

  • PDP knocks Dokpesi, Secondus out of chairmanship race

    PDP knocks Dokpesi, Secondus out of chairmanship race

    … Zones position to Southwest

    The desire of media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, to lead the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to have been truncated by leaders of the party from the three geo-political zones in the south –Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth.

    PDP governors, National Assembly members, former ministers and other leaders from the south at a crucial meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, ahead of the August 17 national convention billed for the city opted to zone the post to the Southwest.

    Also out of the race is Uche Secondus, former acting national chairman of the PDP, who is from Rivers State.

    Dokpesi is from Edo State.  Both Edo and Rivers are part of the Southsouth geopolitical zone.

    Although Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting, said any party member willing to contest any position was free to do so, he was quick to advise party members to respect the zoning formula.

    Also zoned to the Southwest are the positions of national treasurer and deputy national publicity secretary.

    The party zoned the positions of first deputy national chairman, National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Women Leader and Deputy National Auditor to the Southsouth, while South-East got National Organising Secretary, National Youth Leader and Deputy National Financial Secretary.

    PDP stalwarts from the Southwest who have signified their intention to contest the PDP national chairmanship include former Chairman of the Nigerian Port Authority, Chief Bode George, and a former minister, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja.

  • Secondus tasks Buhari on nation’s problems

    The immediate past Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has charged President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Government led to face the nation’s myriads of problems rather than creating more problems.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, Secondus noted that rather than strive to address the major socio- economic issues weighing down Nigerians due to the confusion and lack of direction of the government in the last one year, the APC is rather busy creating more battle fronts and compounding the country challenges.

    The statement said, “Today under APC leadership the country has become a whole theatre of acrimony with agitations here and there with no clear sign of solution in sight, forcing political watchers to question if the country is disintegrating.

    “Even the Boko Haram issue that was supposed to be progressing well has run into troubled waters because of the confusion in the ruling party.

    “Ditto the federal Government’s anti -corruption fight is even skewed due to insincerity as ministers already confirmed to be corrupt internationally continue to move untouched while governors with immunity are harassed daily.

    “Rather than confront the various challenges overwhelming the country, APC is currently bleeding, soaked in its own greed and the obvious consequence is that a house divided against itself is bound to fall and the party is already falling.”

    The PDP chief said the federal government is gradually eroding all indices of democratic principles, especially those anchored on the rule of law and separation of powers, as it has continued to violate all rules of free speech as enshrined in the status books.

    “Unlike what the world is watching in Britain where democracy is being put into action and in America where President Barak Obama is being routinely criticized, Nigerians are living in fear, the press, judiciary, and politicians are in heavy apprehension because of the draconian system of our operatives who come after them for airing their views.”

    He advised the government to respect various organs of governance and stop seeing itself as the Lord Mayor of state Governors and the National Assembly as this will amount to dictatorship.

     

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  • I ‘m being persecuted – Secondus

    The Deputy National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has described his ongoing trial as witch-hunt and political persecution.

    In a statement he issued shortly after he was granted bail on Thursday, the PDP chief said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not establish any case against him.

    Secondus is standing trial for allegedly receiving 23 vehicles from a business man, Mr. Jide Omokore, whom he described as his friend of 20 years.

    The statement said, “On Tuesday 23rd February 2016, I honoured an invitation from the EFCC to clarify issues related to an ongoing investigation by EFCC.

    “They confronted me with allegations of receiving some cars from Mr. Jide Omokore who has been my friend for over 20 years.

    “I admitted to them that Mr. Jide Omokore has given me car gifts on several occasions in the last 10 years for my personal use.

    “I want to state categorically that what I received from my friend, Jide Omokore were cars and buses supplied by a well-known car company, Skymit Motors, apparently from a credit facility Mr. Omokore has with the company. I don’t have any knowledge of the so-called transaction the investigators are alleging he had with NNPC.

    “Against this background, it is most disheartening that the facts of the matter under investigation have been grossly misrepresented in the media, apparently under inducement by some political opponents in the APC particularly, a Minister from Rivers State.

    “This is in line with the strategy of the ruling party to hide under the anti-corruption fight to humiliate the leadership of our party.

    “I have been granted bail under very stringent conditions after eight days in detention. Since the EFCC did not establish any case against me, I find my needless detention a clear case of witch-hunt and pure political persecution that has become a stock in trade of the APC government.

    “My immediate concern is the denial of the fundamental human rights, excessive physical incarceration and the orchestrated negative media campaign completely skewed against those being investigated.

    “Nevertheless, I hereby restate my confidence in the rule of law and the relevant institutions for the resolution of this matter on its merit in the interest of justice.”

  • Nigeria’s economy collapsing – PDP

    Nigeria’s economy collapsing – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday lamented that the nation’s economy is gradually sliding and getting into a state of collapse.

    The party acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus, stated this during the special interdenominational thanksgiving, held at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, to celebrate the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the election of Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

    Secondus, who did not mince words in condemning the All Progressive Congress (APC)- led Federal Government in the management of the economy, said Nigeria was in dire need of the PDP.

    He warned the federal government not to turn states controlled by the PDP into police states where the people would be harassed and intimidated by security agencies.

    He said, “Nigeria is in dire need of the PDP. You can see the difference. The difference is very clear. Eight months ago, the exchange rate was N160 but today the exchange rate is N313.

    “Eight months ago, vessels of ships of goods and services were competing how to enter into our harbour   and seaports but none today.

    “Our economy is sliding and it is getting to a point of collapse. The political situation in the country is in coma and we challenge the APC-led government that it is time for them to realise that they need the people and they do not need the guns because we are not in the military.

    “We warn the APC-led government that Nigeria should not be a police state where our states are being harassed, our stakeholders are being intimidated. Enough is enough.”

    He, however, dedicated the victory of PDP in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa and Abia States to God, saying if had not been the Lord who was on their side the enemies would have captured these states.

     

    At the thanksgiving were Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa).

     

  • PDP insists on Secondus as chairman

    PDP insists on Secondus as chairman

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defied a directive by the party’s governors, asking the Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to hand over to the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo.

    The governors, in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting in Abuja Wednesday night, had ordered Secondus to hand over to Oladipo pending the emergence of a substantive chairman to be picked from the Northeast zone.

    But the party in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwom, insisted that Secondus remains the Acting Chairman.

    The statement said, “The NWC of the PDP wishes to assure all members of the party nationwide that there has not been any change whatsoever in the leadership composition of the party at the national level.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the statutory organs of the party, the NWC, National Caucus, BoT and NEC will be meeting next week to deliberate on some developments including the replacement, from the North East of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, who resigned as the National Chairman of the party.”

    The statement added that replacement will be in strict adherence to the provisions of the party’s constitution, as specified in section 47(6).

    “Until then, the status quo remains, which means the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, remains as the Acting National Chairman.

    “Furthermore, it must be reiterated that all relevant stakeholders of our party, including the PDP Governor’s Forum, National Caucus and the Board of Trustees (BoT) as well as our leadership structures at all levels are united behind the current National Working Committee in the efforts to rebuild, reposition and strengthen our party for the challenges ahead,” the statement added.

  • PDP governors ask Secondus to step down

    PDP governors ask Secondus to step down

    Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked the party’s Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus to step down.

    The governors directed Secondus to hand over the leadership baton to the party’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo in line with provisions of the party’s constitution.

    In a communique issued at the end of a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the governors chided a former presidential adviser, Ahmed Gulak for what they described as his unacceptable conduct.

    Gulak had on Wednesday invaded the party secretariat where he declared himself the national chairman of the PDP.

    The governors frowned at the refusal of Secondus to respect the judgment of an Abuja high court ordering him to vacate the office for a member from the Northeast zone to take the position.

    “We take cognizance of the judgment by the court in Abuja which ordered the acting chairman to vacate office for any other person from the Northeast zone of Nigeria.

    “Our party constitution has enough provisions for that and the necessary process has been put in motion,” the communique said.

    Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko read the communiqué on behalf of his colleagues.

    The governors flayed Gulak’s invasion of the party secretariat where he declared himself national chairman without recourse to the appropriate organs of the party.

    “The invasion of the party headquarters by Ahmed Ali Gulak who reportedly assumed the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party is regrettable and condemnable,” Mimiko said.

    According to the governors, the issue of the chairmanship of the party would soon be resolved to enable someone from the Northeast complete the tenure of the last national chairman, Adamu Muazu who resigned in May 2015.

    “The appropriate organs of the party will meet soonest to elect a national chairman of the party from the appropriate zone,” he said.

  • Anti-graft war: Buhari on vengeance mission – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of going on a vengeance mission, describing the administration’s anti-corruption war as vendetta against members and others associated with the PDP.

    In a New Year message signed by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the PDP said the anti-graft war is meant to harass and intimidate members of the opposition.

    Secondus charged Nigerians to remain focused in the New Year, even as he chided the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of feeding Nigerians with false propaganda.

    The statement said, “Nigerians have watched in bewilderment as the so-called change agenda of the APC has deepened the socio-economic problems in the country, instead of building on the successes bequeathed to them by the PDP

    “Today the APC has governed for seven months and PDP can confidently say without any fear of contradiction that the APC was not prepared for governance. The APC is just a gang-up of aggrieved people to take over the reins of power.

    “To date, APC does not have a clear agenda on how to bring about the change they promised. As a result, Nigerians have seen the APC for all it is worth -an ill prepared party with an ill prepared agenda for governance.

    “Nigerians have seen the chaotic situation at hand, orchestrated by the incoherent policy initiatives of the APC led government. Yes, this is the reality we face.

    “From the confusion in the subsidy question, to the insurgency conundrum, from the discredited anti-corruption fight, to the confusion in the government’s economic policy.

    “Yet the government has, by its own acts of omission and commission, presented itself as non-inclusive and sectional.

    “Consequently, we are now faced with worsening fuel crisis, free fall of the naira, job losses, worsening insurgency, the Shiites/military clash, renewed Biafran agitation and general insecurity.

    “In the middle of all this, it is clear that the APC government is pursuing a one -party state agenda considering its inordinate schemes to take over PDP controlled states.”

     

  • Court reserves judgment in Gulak’s suit against PDP, Secondus

    Court reserves judgment in Gulak’s suit against PDP, Secondus

    Justice Hussein Baba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, has reserved judgment in the suit filed by Ahmed Gulak, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, against the current leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Gulak is seeking the sack of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus , on the ground that by the provision of  the PDP constitution and its zoning principle, he was the proper person to replace the last Chairman, Adamu Muazu, who hailed from the Northeast geopolitical zone.

    Parties to the suit on Monday argued the plaintiff’s substantive suit (originating summons) and the defendants’ preliminary objection and adopted their final written addresses, before the judge told them that hearing notices will be issued when the judgment is ready.

    Gulak, who was dressed in blue native attire, sat in court all through the proceedings.

    Arguing his client’s case, plaintiff’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), urged the court to uphold his Gulak’s prayers and refuse the preliminary objection raised against the suit by the defendants – the PDP and Secondus.

    He argued that Secondus was occupying the position of the PDP chairman illegally.

    He contended that by virtue of the provision of Article 47(6) of the party’s constitution, “the 2nd defendant (Secondus) form Rivers State, cannot replace the immediate past Chairman, Alhaji Muazu, who left office about seven months ago.”

     

  • We’ve recovered from shock of defeat – PDP

    We’ve recovered from shock of defeat – PDP

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the party has recovered from its initial shock occasioned by the loss of power at the centre in the last general election.

    At its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held Thursday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the PDP said it found the loss disappointing, but has started the process of rebuilding.

    The Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, who presided over the meeting, added that the loss afforded the party to do some soul searching.

    Secondus said, “Our party has witnessed challenging times after our disappointing loss in the last elections. We moved from pain, despair, soul- searching and now by the grace of the Almighty God, we have started the process of rebuilding confidence in ourselves for a brighter future for the party.”

    According to him, the first step pursuant to soul searching was the resignation of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and Chief Tony Anenih as National Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Trustees respectively.

    Secondus called the attention of Nigerians to what the party described as selective implementation of the ongoing anti-corruption fight, saying members of the party were being singled out for prosecution.

    “It would be morally repugnant to target PDP members while seemingly protecting APC members. All we are calling for is an equal and fair treatment of all Nigerians under the law.

    “Government should prevent the slide of our dear country into a police state by controlling some of the brazen acts of the security agencies against state institutions as exemplified in the invasion of the Akwa Ibom Government House by some officers of the DSS.

    “In the same vein, we call on the federal government to come out straight with Nigerians on the state of our economy, which is gradually sliding into recession.

    “It appears that the lack of an economic direction and remedial actions from the government is having a debilitating effect on the economy. Jobs are being lost and small businesses are closing shops as a result of the lack of constructive economic engagement from the APC government,” the party chairman added.

    Also speaking at the event, Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said the PDP liberalised the democratic space in the 16 years it held power at the centre.

     

  • Blasts: PDP urges Buhari to overhaul DSS, others

    Blasts: PDP urges Buhari to overhaul DSS, others

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to overhaul the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies in the country.

    The call followed last Friday’s explosions at Nyanya and Kuje, two satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory.

    At least 20 persons were killed in the blasts, while several others were seriously wounded.

    In a statement signed by the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, the party noted that the attacks were as a result of either a dereliction of duty or sabotage against the anti-terrorism fight.

    The party regretted that the bombings occurred at a time the nation was already celebrating the success of the security forces in the counter insurgency campaign.

    The PDP said it would continue to support each and every policy adopted by the government of President Buhari to end terrorism, especially knowing the importance of secured environment in achieving peaceful co-existence, an imperative for development.

    The statement said, “And whereas we are aware that a bomb is an ill-wind that blows no good to anybody in the community, scaring away potential investors, we are therefore duty bound to draw attention to certain grave factors, possibly leading to the unfortunate resurgence, which, if unchecked could worsen the ugly situation.

    “Our checks reveal that poor intelligence gathering by the DSS and other relevant intelligence group is largely, if not directly responsible for the resurgence of terrorists, who have earlier been pushed to the precipices in the Sambisa forest in Borno State, to the extent that they have slipped back into other cities, including the nation’s capital.

    “From all indications, the DSS under the watch of the current Director- General, Alhaji Lawal Daura, does not seem to be in full grip of the intelligence situation.

    “This is apparently traceable to the avoidable distractions occasioned by the flagrant use of the agency for political assignments since the emergence of the new Director-General, in addition to the apparent administrative disharmony within the service, all resulting in the erosion of professionalism, harmony and loyalty among personnel.

    “In the last few months, the DSS, instead of concentrating on its primary statutory duties of providing domestic intelligence, security service and criminal investigations for the state, has, under the new Director-General, directed all its energies on political matters, chasing after opposition elements, interfering in election tribunal activities, intimidating and hounding tribunal witnesses, while terrorists resurge, and combatant security forces left with scanty intelligence.

    “The situation with the DSS has become so pathetic that it could not even effectively analyze reported suspicious tweets ‘predicting the attacks’ as a cue to forestalling last Friday’s attack in Abuja and other parts of the country.

    “Indeed, our nation cannot afford a retrogression from the gains already made in the fight against terrorism due to the failure of a disorganized, improperly coordinated and distracted intelligence agency, that is not able to live up to its billing.”