… Ask for the head of the National Chairman, but PDPGF yet to agree
Days after Governor Nyesom Wike was dubbed “Father Christmas” by his colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, pressure to remove Prince Uche Secondus from office as the National Chairman has intensified.
The move is coming against the backdrop of a new flak that is being opened in Rivers State where Wike is alleged to have joined an effort to stir conflict within the APC.
Wike is purportedly financing Senator Magnus Abe and encouraging his supporters to shake the table as much as possible.
Wike has turned out to be an enigma and a fighter. There is crisis in the PDP, a lot of bickering, a raging storm and he is reportedly at the centre of it.
Indeed, what played out in front of the Governors is being seen as a test of will.
It is fight of will between the PDP establishment which is saying there is no place for a caretaker arrangement in the PDP and those on the street who insist Secondus must go.
The fight is escalating by the day and there are no indications, despite the intervention of the BoT, that the protest against Secondus’ Chairmanship of the party will blow away anytime soon.
Meanwhile, the PDP caucus in the National Assembly has joined in the fray, urging Secondus to step down.
Its members, according to information filtering in, sided with party supporters on the streets, saying the party is losing traction under the leadership of Uche Secondus.
Earlier, Chief Bode George from the Western zone had slammed the Secondus led leadership.
George’s reaction, when it came, was perceived as an attempt to set the agenda.
In the meantime, six members of the National Working Committee of the PDP have joined the Secondus-must- go-campaign.
Given what is happening on the street, in meeting halls, the plan to pull down the National Chairman has reached an advanced stage.
Secondus has since declared, he is going nowhere. He seems to be getting support from some former governors of the party.
Weighing in, Seriake Dickson, a former Governor of Bayelsa State who is now a Senator said Wike would never succeed in his bid to topple the party leadership.
BoT members have similarly thrown their weight behind Secondus, noting that it would be dangerous not to allow Secondus to serve out his tenure.
Those members who attended the meeting a few days ahead of that meant for the governors, reportedly accused Governor Wike of Rivers State of prompting the crisis engulfing the PDP.
Senator Wahid Jubrin, leader of the Board of Trustees of the PDP took time to warn that an implosion within the party was likely if the needless fight for supremacy is not put on hold.
But in what apparently appears to be a renewal of the bid to push Prince Secondus out of the window, hordes of protesters asking for the National Chairman of the PDP to step aside converged at the venue of the governors meeting.
The protesters were carrying banners and chanting anti – Secondus slogans.
Organizers of the movement had made sure to be in position long before governors of the PDP arrived the venue.
“The timing of the protest was perfect”, said a political observer.
“The organizers may have been defiant of the mainstream position taken by the owners of the party, but they succeeded in getting their message out”, the observer stressed.
The PDP Governors who attended the meeting were seen on camera literally wading through vociferous crowds of anti – Secondus protesters.
The Governors of the party are split. No decision was reached Monday. They are however reconvening Tuesday to continue their search for a way forward.
“We discussed extensively on matters of the moment concerning our party”, Aminu Tambuwal, Chair of the PDP Governors Forum told newsmen, “we have collectively resolved to continue to work together in unity.
“This meeting will continue tomorrow (Tuesday) with other stakeholders. Very soon, Nigerians and indeed, all of you will hear our resolution.
“We are working towards resolving all issues, as a family. By the grace of God, we are going to achieve that.”
Thursday, Wike had been clearly unhappy at the meeting of the PDP’s Board of Trustees. He is hurting over his discription as Father Christmas by members of his own party.
Recounting his contributions in the past to the party, the Rivers Governor noted that his support for the PDP has been largely misconstrued.
He said he has never indicated any interest to contest the presidency, stressing his action has been inspired by his love for the party.
But Wike is the issue. What does he want? Only time would answer that question.
For now, Wike continues to poke his fingers into the eyes of Uche Secondus, a Rivers politician like himself.
Both men had collaborated to kick out Chief G. U Ake, State Chairman of the PDP under Governor Rotimi Amaechi with the support of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Now, Secondus is at the receiving end as Wike and his friends push for him to step down.
Wike is not backing down in his war with Secondus and the appearance of protesters at the venue of the Governors meeting suggest he is not afraid to combat the backers of a fellow Rivers man inside the PDP.
Should the Governors Forum back Wike when they rise from Tuesday’s meeting, the stage might be set for a rift that is likely to tear PDP apart.
Already, many are describing the PDP as the party of Wike. Those who are fighting the Rivers Governor say they are trying to rescue the party from the control of one man.
In Rivers State where both men hail from, war is looming. Supporters of the two gladiators are already taking sides.
Dum Dekor, a member of the House of Representatives from Ogoni, has asked Prince Secondus to step aside, saying the Andoni-born politician is superintendenting over a visionless leadership.
“All we need is a leadership that has grassroots support across the breadth and length of the nation and not a leadership that is polarized. It’s therefore very imperative to do the needful and this is the time”, Rt. Hon. Dekor added.
While events play out and the PDP reels under the weight of contending interests powered by Wike and some leaders across the country, a new flash point between the Governor and the APC leaders in Rivers State is taking shape.
Rivers APC leaders are fingering the Governor, accusing him of allegedly placing bigwigs within the Rivers Judiciary at the beck and call of Senator Abe in order to bring destruction upon their party.
With what is openly playing out in the PDP, not many people in Rivers State have any serious doubt about Wike’s capacity to stir unrest within the rival party.