Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has insisted that the former national chairman of and therefore, cannot speak either for or interfere in the affairs of the PDP.
Secondus, who was the immediate past national chairman of PDP, while alluding to the Wike, was reported in the media to have said that no one person has powers to impose a presidential candidate on Rivers electorate.
But reacting to the outburst, Wike said Secondus was a meddlesome interloper because he had been expelled as a member of PDP by his ward in Andoni, an action that was affirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The governor spoke at the inauguration of Aluu-Omagwa Link Road at Omuagubia playground by Cross Junction, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area, last Saturday.
“I read a newspaper this morning where a former member of our party, one Uche Secondus, said that no one man can impose a presidential candidate on Rivers people.
“He is not a member of our party. His ward expelled him from the party. The court confirmed it. He went to Court of Appeal, he lost. He went to Supreme Court; the matter is coming up on October 23, 2023.”
Wikeadded, “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.”
Wike emphasised that, in any case, Rivers people would listen to him more than Secondus because they can trust him as a leader who would continue to defend the interest of the state.
“So, Mr.Secondus, I have no problem with you being technical adviser to Atiku. But don’t speak on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State, because you are not a member of our party.”
Wike asserted that it was not surprising that Secondus, beclouded by his half education, preferred poorly educated candidate, Senator Lee Maeba, to have emerged as senator over Senator Magnus Abe, a more educated Rivers son.
The governor recalled how Secondus and his cohorts, now christened,‘Abuja Rivers politicians’, had always tried to circumvent his political intentions, but failed.
The governor said he had no apology for unsettling the so-called Abuja politicians when the party structure was taken over by him in 2013, while beating them into joining with him because there was no other choice left for them.
“What most of you didn’t know is that all these people who run away to Abuja, they’ve never worked with us. I led the team; they kicked them out of office in 2007. Yes, I have no apology to that.
“In 2014, in spite the fact that 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 no hope, there was nothing else for them to do, they had no choice but to come and join us.”
Wike observed that in their usual manner, they regrouped against him, and clandestinely supported one of them to become the governorship flag bearer of PDP in the state for the 2023 general election but were frustrated.
The Rivers State governor explained that he embarked on legal battle to reclaim Rivers State ceded oil wells to Imo and Bayelsastates, and today, proceeds from them were received by Rivers State.
Wike also mentioned the ongoing legal battle over the illegality of Value Added Tax (VAT) collection by the Federal Government when it should be collected by the states.
The legal battle over deduction of Rivers State fund for the Police Trust Fund was won in favour of the state, including the foiling of the attempt made to illegally abduct former acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), JoiNunieh, who though, was not one of his political supporters, but was protected because she was a Rivers daughter.
Wike said one of the reasons Rivers people cannot trust Seconduswas because of the ugly role he played in 2019.
It was about election time, he said, when AlhajiAtikuAbubakar and former Senate president, Dr BukolaSaraki, visited him to ask what he was expecting for Rivers State, and the demand was clear: the office of the attorney general of the federation and minister of petroleum.
But Wike stated that what Secondus did was to go behind to demand for oil block for himself and not for the state.
Wike also recalled how Secondus had always frustrated the completion of projects that were under his purview, including the Andoni axis of the Ogoni-Opobo-Andoni Unity Road.
“Ask him, what happened when the military took over, when the National Republican Convention (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.”
Wike further alleged, “Ask him, from 1999, when Dr Peter Odili became governor?Every project Odili gave to Andoni through him, ask him, which one was commissioned?
“Every company that the state government paid money to, instead of allowing the company to do the job, you’ll collect the money. That is why it’s difficult and we have not been able to commission the Andoni aspect of the road.”
Providing the description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr DakorinimaAlaboGeorge-Kelly said the Aluu-Omagwa Link Road was 9.8km long and 9.5metre wide.
He explained that the road would serve as an alternative route for motorists going to the Port Harcourt International Airport, Imo State, and other neighbouring communities.