By Job Osazuwa
Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have opened up on why they supported Prince Uche Secondus as the national chairman.
The governors elected on the PDP platform said they supported Secondus because of his strength character and honesty.
The governors also stated that Secondus, when he was national deputy chairman, stood for the truth and ensured that rules were adhered to; during party primaries.
It was also a day Secondus prophesied that the new National Working Committee (NWC) will take the party to the Promised Land.
They spoke at a thanksgiving service in honour of Secondus, at the Rivers State Ecumenical Centre, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
When it was his turn, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, said every governor gave testimony on how the national Chairman stood firm for the right thing to be done.
Wike recounted how, as deputy national chairman, Secondus relegated monetary considerations and ensured the promotion of PDP interests.
The governor said Secondus insisted on his emergence as PDP governorship candidate because he felt it was in the best interest of the party, even though other groups preferred an ethnic candidate.
“This position is an opportunity to give Nigerians what they want. I can’t understand why people are suffering untold hardship. Imagine the fuel scarcity, with people buying a litre of fuel between N300 and N400.”
He said that Secondus emerged through a credible process where all candidates tested their popularity. Wike also said governors and other stakeholders preferred Secondus because of his experience and track record.
“For the first time in the history of our party, we had an election to elect a national chairman. It was not like the case before where the president and governors decided on a consensus candidate,” said Wike.
On his part, Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade said he encountered Secondus when they had a major challenge in the delegates list of the party, but the former deputy national chairman insisted on correcting the illegality without inducement.
He said all the governors who worked for the emergence of the national chairman did so because of the unflinching support Secondus gave them in the past.
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi added: “Secondus stood with me when the promise of man failed.”
He said all the governors resolved to work with governor Wike in canvassing for Secondus because of his character and content. He said the governors turned their backs on those who took money in the past.
In his remarks, Abia State Governor , Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu commended the presence of mind of Secondus, which he said would be beneficial to the party.
He said: “We are prepared to go the whole route with Prince Uche Secondus. He will be an exemplary party leader in Africa.”
Secondus added that PDP is poised to take over the leadership of the country.
“We are going according to the plans and purpose of God. This country will be returned to the PDP, whether you like it or not, it is approved in heaven. You cannot do otherwise.”
He thanked God for His grace and blessing which delivered the position of national chairman for him and how God used governor Wike and his colleagues to bring the post to fruition.