Jubilation as PDP Chairmanship aspirant storms Wadata Plaza

Prince Secondus who is a frontline contender for the PDP chairmanship, according to his media team, was met by a jubilant crowd of supporters who believe he is the best candidate to steer the party.

"Amidst chants of 'total Chairman, Change the Change', Prince Secondus's entourage comprising of top party leaders from all the 36 states and Abuja, had hard times moving to the hall where the party leadership was already waiting," a statement from the media team began.

It was gathered that inside the hall, the Director of Organisation, Mr. Fatona and other staff of the secretariat were elated and jubilant while meeting the man fondly called 'Prince of the Delta'.

ALSO READ: "PDP National Chairmanship: No aspirant will be disqualified - Ahmed Makarfi "

According to the secretariat staff, Prince Secondus is known to be a God-fearing leader and throughout his time as Organising Secretary, Deputy National Chairman, and acting National Chairman, he was very forthright and stood for the truth.

Fatona who welcomed the entourage on behalf of the party leadership recalled how Secondus used to kneel down to pray for 30 minutes every morning when he resumed work at Wadata Plaza.

Recalling Secondus's many contributions to the making of PDP, the Director said it was a privilege and honour welcoming the 'total chairman' back to Wadata.

The National Organising Secretary of the party, Senator Abdul Ningi, in his remarks, affirmed that the leadership of the party has no preferred aspirant among those seeking the chairmanship, pledging that 'the party will guarantee a level playing field for all contenders.'

Sen. Ningi warned aspirants against unwarranted attacks on the party leadership, insisting that the leadership has not done anything to favour any aspirant from any zone.

While admonishing aspirants to be focused on wooing delegates to the convention, Ningi said any serious aspirants should sell himself to the delegates instead of seeking scapegoats even when the race has not started.

"Go and win your state for the party. Go and entrench the party in your state. Stop attacking us here," Sen. Ningi was quoted as saying.

He emphasized that any aspirant who submitted their forms will be received here and 'we will tell the world what he has contributed to the party.'

"We will not campaign for any of you but we will let the world know your antecedents. To that end, we pay homage to Secondus, a total Chairman with a tremendous commitment to the party.

You have sacrificed a lot for the party. You are still making the sacrifice. Your zone is ours and we know you can sacrifice anything for the sake of the party.

You know the PDP and the PDP knows you. If we fail to acknowledge your contributions to PDP, we will be highly unfair to you," Sen. Ningi stated.

In his reaction, Prince Secondus reaffirmed his faith in the greatness of the PDP despite what he called 'the blackmail and accusations', calling on all leaders 'to embrace politics without bitterness for the greatness of the party.'

"I will not blackmail anybody. I will not attack anybody. I urge those attacking me to woo the delegates. This party is for all of us. I respect all the leaders and I pledge to run a decent and matured campaign.

I am not desperate for this office and that is why I have vowed never to fight anybody. If I win, fine. If not, I will support whoever wins.

I join the race because I think we need to hit the ground running. In less than nine months, preparations for the general elections will start. With my experience in that office, we will start the winning process", he stated.

Delivering the vote of thanks, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha narrated Secondus antecedents of lifelong service to the party, informing that the campaign was based on volunteers and like-minded groups.

ALSO READ: "Dokpesi: AIT boss says regaining power in 2019 must start with vibrant PDP exco"

According to him, Secondus is the best among all the participants seeking the office because of the singular fact that his sacrifice in Port Harcourt accounted for the continued existence of the PDP today.

"We assure the party leadership that Secondus will cooperate with the leadership and play according to the rules," Hon. Ihedioha stressed.