Nyesom Wike: Uche Secondus didn’t finish secondary school, doesn’t understand grammar

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the governor of Rivers State, has stated that Prince Uche Secondus is not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and hence has no right to speak for or intervene in the party’s affairs.

Secondus, the former PDP national chairman, alluded to Governor Wike’s statement that no individual can force a presidential candidate on Rivers’ electorate.

In Andoni, Secondus was expelled as a member of the PDP by his ward, and this decision was upheld by a court of competent jurisdiction, prompting Governor Wike to label him as an interfering outsider.

On Saturday, the governor gave a speech at the Omuagubia playground by Cross Junction, Omagwa, in the Ikwerre Local Government Area, which marked the official opening of the Aluu-Omagwa Link Road.

“I read the 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 the Court of Appeal, but he lost. He went to Supreme Court. The matter is coming up on October 23, 2023.”

Governor Wike continued, “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.”

Governor Wike emphasised that the people of Rivers will pay more attention to him than they would to Secondus because they know he will continue to defend the state’s interests.

“So, Mr Secondus, I have no problem with you being a 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.”

Governor Wike stated that it should come as no surprise that Secondus, hampered by his lack of formal education, supported the election of Senator Lee Maeba over Senator Magnus Abe, a more well-educated native of the Rivers State.

The governor recounted how Secondus and his cronies, now known as Abuja Rivers politicians, had continuously attempted to foil his political plans.

The governor said he doesn’t feel bad that he upset the so-called Abuja politicians when he took over the party structure in 2013 and forced them to join him because they had no other choice.

“Most of you didn’t know that all these people who run away to Abuja have never worked with us. I led the team that kicked them out of office in 2007. Yes, I have no apology for that.

“In 2014, despite the fact 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 no hope, they had nothing else to do. They had no choice but to come and join us.”

Governor Wike noted that, as is their habit, they banded together to oppose him and secretly backed one of them to become the PDP’s candidate for governor in the 2023 general election in the state, only to be ultimately disappointed.

The governor of Rivers State stated that he had filed suit against neighbouring states of Imo and Bayelsa to retrieve oil wells that had been ceded to Rivers State in the past.

In addition, Governor Wike brought up the pending court case about the federal government’s illegal collection of VAT when the state should be responsible for doing so.

The legal battle over the deduction of Rivers State funds for the Police Trust Fund was won by the state. This included stopping an attempt to illegally kidnap Mrs Joi Nunieh, who is not one of his political supporters but was protected because she is a Rivers daughter.

According to Governor Wike, Secondus’s unpleasant involvement in 2019 is one of the main reasons the people of Rivers do not trust him.

He explained that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Bukola Saraki had come to see him around the time of the election to find out what he wanted for Rivers State. His request was unequivocal: the positions of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Petroleum.

But Governor Wike said that what Secondus did was to go back and ask for an oil block for himself, not for the state.

In addition, Governor Wike recalled how Secondus had repeatedly impeded the progress of initiatives under his control, such as the Andoni axis of the Ogoni-Opobo-Andoni Unity Road.

“Ask him what happened when the military took over, when the NRC was in power, Ada George was the state governor. 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.”

Further, Governor Wike claimed, “Ask him, from 1999 when Odili became governor, every project Dr Odili gave to Andoni through him, ask him, which one was commissioned.”

“Every company that the state government would pay money to instead of you to allow the company to do the job, you’ll collect the money. That is why it’s difficult and why we have not been able to commission the Andoni aspect of the road.”

Dr George-Kelly Dakorinima Alabo, the Commissioner for Works in the state of Rivers, has described the Aluu-Omagwa Link Road as being 9.8 kilometres long and 9.5 metres in width.

He elaborated on how the road would provide an alternate route to the Port Harcourt International Airport, Imo State, and other nearby communities.