Why Atiku Ignored Wike, Appointed Secondus Adviser; Governor Admits He Maligned Secondus

By Adesina Soyooye

For the second time within a few days, good news went  the way of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.

The Presidential Candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar, has just appointed him as one of his  Advisers, inspite of Governor Nyesom Wike.

The appointment came on the heels of the “confession” by the Rivers State Governor that Secondus was deliberately painted in unflattering colours to remove him from office as the National Chairman of the Party.

Secondus, Wike’s kinsman, was backed by the Governor to become the PDP National Chairman. But some months to the end of his first tenure, Wike moved against Secondus. The Governor led a war against him, and insisted, inspite of the vote of confidence in Secondus passed by the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the Party, that Secondus must go.

He described Secondus as incompetent. He said Secondus’ Chairmanship of the Party has been a disaster. And that his continued stay as the Chairman, would lead to a complete demise of the Party. Wike had his way.

Since then, he has continued to wage a war against Secondus, and anybody seen associating with him.

But a few days ago, during what he termed a World Press Conference, Wike contradicted himself on why he moved against Secondus. It turns out that he did not move against him because Secondus was incompetent. He moved against him because he wanted a Northerner to be the Chairman of the Party, Wike confessed, so that the Presidential candidate will be a Southerner. Perhaps, he had himself in mind. So, he installed Dr Iyorchia Ayu, just as he installed Secondus, and Ali Modu Sheriff before Secondus.

In sacking Secondus, and installing Ayu, Wike miscalculated. He lost both ways. He neither got the Chairmanship of the Party, nor the Presidential ticket for the South. Seeing that he has lost out, Wike is fighting for  the removal of Ayu as the Chairman, and the appointment of a Southerner in his stead.

Even though that is the condition he and his team gave to be part of the PDP Presidential Campaign, he is not likely to have his way. Both the PDP and its Presidential candidate has obviously moved on without him since all entreaties to him failed. He has withdrawn from the Presidential Campaign Council along with his team. And, he forbade the Rivers State Chapter of the Party from sending nominees to the Council. Neither Atiku, Ayu nor the Party is perturbed anymore.

But nothing rubs it in more than anything that Atiku has decided to call Wike’s bluff by his appointment of Secondus as his Technical Adviser.

In a Press Release signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe,  Atiku appointed  Secondus as one of his Advisers, along with former Senate Presidents,  Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, Dr Bukola Saraki, and others.

The Release reads:

2023 Presidential Campaign: Atiku Appoints Secondus, Saraki, Anyim, Shekarau, Others as Special Advisers

“Ahead of the commencement of the 2023 election campaign on Wednesday, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has made key appointments of Special Advisers aimed at strengthening his Presidential campaign team.

“The appointees are former Senate Presidents, Dr. Bukola Saraki as Special Envoy to the Presidential candidate and Senator Pius Anyim, as Special Adviser.

“Also appointed as Special Advisers to the candidate are former Governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Senator Ehigie Uzamere.

“Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus was also appointed as Technical Adviser to the presidential candidate.

“The appointments are to take immediate effect.

“Atiku Abubakar charged the appointees to use their vast political experiences in ensuring that the PDP presidential campaign records resounding success in the 2023 election.”

Secondus has accepted the appointment. In a tweet, he said: “I have just received the news of my appointment as Technical Adviser to H.E.@atiku Abubakar in his 2023 Presidential Campaign.

“The mission to Rescue Nigeria thar was initiated in 2018 will come to a fulfilment by the Special Grace of Almighty God.”

Atiku’s appointment of Secondus is generally seen as a dare to Wike. Not a few people think that Wike owes Secondus an apology for removing him from office – using false narratives.