Secondus Has Demonstrated Gross Incapacity To Lead PDP –Adewumi

Hon. Segun Adewumi

Hon. Segun Adewumi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was former Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. In this Interview with YAQOUB POPOOLA, he expressed concern about the turn of events in the PDP and what led to its present tale of woes. Excerpts

 How would describe what is happening to your party(PDP) at the national level and do you think Secondus can still lead the party to victory?

God has designed it that this set of officers will not be leading the party to Ekiti 2022 and 2023 general elections. The onus lies on PDP founding fathers, Party Leaders and all stakeholders to look inwards and put capable men in the various positions in other to put PDP in vantage position of opposition and lead Nigeria out of the woods. Because the party has failed to play the role of opposition due to deficit in leadership, even association of market women organises themselves and perform better. Nemo judex in causa sua; “No one is judge in his own cause”. It’s a principle of natural justice that no person can judge a case in which they have an interest. It is also imperative that Prince Uche Secondus and his team vacate office and allow caretaker member conduct the coming convention since the Secondus team is interested in contesting for second term in office. Allowing Secondus and his team to conduct convention schedules for December 2021 will amount to giving them undue advantage and a recipe for future failure.

There had been litany of accusations against Uche Secondus and his team of National Working Committee of PDP such as; allegation of mismanaging10 billion by Kazeem Afegbua; managerial incapacitation which has resulted in crisis in almost all state chapters of the party; allegations of tax collector by Nyesom wike; Unmerited ambition of second term.

So if Prince Uche Secondus is a man of integrity and has content of character and the interest of this party at heart as he claimed, because all that he is today, the party (PDP) made him, he has benefited from the party more than the party has benefitted from him. He ought to act responsibly and honourably by resigning.

Then about the gale of defections, yes I want to say that it is caused by certain factors which are not limited to Uche Secondus shortcomings, since every politics is local. Let me give you an insight. The Zamfara Governor did come to that office by sheer providence and he wants to hold on to power ,he was intimidated, remember that the former Governor Ahmed Yerimah made Matawalle a commissioner in his administration and he once told him as reported in the media that for him to hold on to the seat of power and also seek second term he (Matawalle )must join the APC..

However many of the rest are based on flimsy excuses that are not tenable in the face of the law. Most National and State Assembly Members that decamped to APC can be challenged in court and their seats will be declared vacant by court of law.

What do you make out of Fayose’s threat to quit the PDP if he interest was not protected in 2022 Governorship Primaries in Ekiti ?

Let me say that Fayose is only ranting. It will not be the first time his candidate will be losing election, take a look; He supported Dr Kayode Fayemi against Engr Segun Oni in the governorship re-run election of 2009 and lost; Ayo Fayose contested for Senate under Labour party in 2011 he lost; He supported Professor Kolapo Olusola in 2018 gubernatorial election he lost; Ayo Fayose supported Ekiti State PDP National Assembly candidates in 2019 election and they lost, except Biodun Olujimi whom he campaigned vigorously against through mainstream and New Media sources.

So let it be recorded that Ayo Fayose is enjoying the benevolence of Peoples Democratic Party and the Ekiti populace who appreciates his Charisma, Boldness and some touch of SHAKARA whereas its all Machievellic style. However according to Plato “The truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it. A lie is still a lie, even if everyone believes it.”

If Ayo Fayose leaves PDP, It will be good riddance to bad rubbish, the party & its teeming members will not miss him, there will even be peace across board his exit will be celebrated the party will move forward because no man is indispensable.

Are you saying expressly that the PDP is not bothered by Fayose’s threat?

In response to your question I wish to humbly refer you to the interview I granted this respected media outlet on Sept.24,2020, wherein I stated inter-alia; “All over the world struggle for power is never served a- la-carte and this is not the first time that congress will generate controversy but its always handled with tact and decisiveness”. Nevertheless it has never been this bad in Ekiti PDP, where there will be parallel excos from ward to state level”. The question is what is the National body doing? With the Bukola Sarakis’ led reconciliation committee and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s Southwest reconciliation committee, coupled with the crisis bedeviling the party accross Nigeria, I think the Uche Secondus led National Working Committee second term agenda that caused the crisis ab-initio is already a mirage, it will give room for good reasoning to prevail.

How do you think the PDP can be rescued from Fayose in Ekiti ?

Ex- governor Ayo Fayose is not God, he doesn’t love or like Ekiti people as he so mouthed. Though he was favoured by God to govern Ekiti twice and he did his best, but how has he shown magnanimity in Victory? Immediately he left office in October 2018 he didn’t give a grain of rice to PDP members either at his Afao Ekiti or Irepodun-Ifelodun local government talk less of the generality of Ekiti PDP Members during the Christmas & New year celebrations. During the COVID-19 pandemic ex-governor Ayo Fayose didn’t deem it fit to give palliatives to the people he claimed to so much love & cared for. Whereas individuals and corporate organizations of lesser political & economic means make sure that the Ekiti people needs were met

Also during years 2019 and 2020 Christmas festivities which is noted as seasons of giving, ex-governor Ayo Fayose decided to punish PDP members who has virtually became a “political orphan” by abandoning them & went to Dubai with his family partying & sent the picture to Ekiti people via social media for them to see how he is enjoying his life after office. With the fresh air of freedom blowing across the party in Ekiti State, I strongly believe the party will be rescued from him. You are aware that when some of the party stakeholders started the struggle to wean the party from Ayo Fayose’s stranglehold in 2018 Immediately after PDP lost the governorship election, there were name calling, threat to life e.t.c.

How do you think the PDP can be salvaged at this level ?

Please allow me to take you through the memory lane concerning party formation. It’s evident that political parties are formed based on ideologies and beliefs by individuals or group of people unless otherwise. Examples abound, Africa National Congress (ANC) was formed as a resistance movement against apartheid, Republican and Democratic parties were formed with clear cut diametrically opposed ideologies. Coming home, the Unity Party of Nigeria was founded by late sage Obafemi Awolowo with Democratic Socialism ideals, while National Party of Nigeria was formed by like minds people who functioned in Balewa administration with Chief Adisa Akinloye as Chairman. Peoples Democratic Party was formed by (G-34) patriots/ nationalists with Democratic ideals to ease military out of governance ably led by Chief Solomon Lar, others that occupied the exalted office after him were; Chief Audu Ogbe, chief Awoniyi, Adamu Muazu etc. You will agree with me that these are either retired senior public servants, captains of industry and former Governors who can hold their own, stand without anybody’s’ support in the society, act without prodding & self-opinionated.

With this background information you will agree with me that Prince Uche Secondus doesn’t have the prerequisite qualities and qualifications to hold that office.

Considering Prince Uche Secondus checkered political/administrative career from his Rivers State i.e. Youth Leader, Publicity Secretary, State Chairman, Deputy National Chairman etc. One expects him to be more grounded than what we are seeing; unfortunately you can’t give what you don’t have. Unfortunately prince Uche Secondus was foisted on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2017 by duo of Messrs Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose because of their personal interest and agenda as against the overall interest of the party and the generally of Nigerians. However when Governor Wike saw the light, remember he labeled Uche Secondus and his management team “tax collectors “.

Is there is any hope for the PDP in the Ekiti 2022 Governorship Election ?

Fortunately now, majority of party members has seen the light and bought into our narratives and the repositioning group is getting stronger. Some of the practical steps to reposition the party was made manifest during the South West Congress at Oshogbo on April 12, 2021 where Ayo Fayose and his gang of political interlopers were roundly defeated, he could not win a single post out of (33, remember that he had variously boasted that he controls the entire South West PDP machinery. Not minding the pandering of the PDP National Chairman to skew the congress in Ayo Fayose’s favour i.e.moving the venue of the congress from Ibadan to Oshogbo, who does that? Importing names that are not in compliance with PDP Constitution as delegates across the entire South West region etc.

Culled from independent.ng