Secondus was naive, I knew he’d be removed as PDP chairman —Gov. Umahi

 

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, says he knew beforehand that Uche Secondus, embattled chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would be removed from his position.

 

Over the past few weeks, there have been several attempts to remove Secondus from his position, resulting in multiple court judgments barring and reinstating him as the party’s national chairman.

 

In compliance with the most recent court order, the party’s national working committee (NWC) named Yemi Akinwonmi, national deputy chairman (south), as the acting national chairman.

 

On Tuesday, the executive committee of the PDP ward 5 in Ikuru, Andoni LGA of Rivers state, suspended Secondus as a member of the party.

 

Speaking on Friday during a programme on Channels Television, Umahi, a former member of the PDP, said while he was with the opposition party, he informed some members of a plot to “unduly” remove Secondus as the party’s chairman.

 

“I won’t say I’m happy with what is happening to the chairman — Secondus — because he was a bit naive. When I was in PDP, I had a revelation from God and I prophesied that Obaseki was going to win,” he said.

 

“He (Obaseki) was in APC, I was in PDP. A governor of PDP instigated Secondus to set up a disciplinary committee against a sitting governor, and I was very upset about that.

 

 “In humility, I submitted myself to that committee, but I know a particular governor who is the owner of PDP did that, and Secondus had to succumb to that and that divided their working committee.

 

“So, when I was leaving, I told them — do two things. I was told that the working committee, especially Secondus, was going to be unduly removed to give one man or two the leverage of owning the PDP. I said that should not happen, and I told Secondus and I told all the working committee when they visited me in Abuja.

 

“And the second one was — cede presidency to the south-east and we will all be together. Nut they did not. I think it is the will of God to be where I am and I’m very happy.”

 

Umahi also said he did not join APC to insist for the presidential slot to be zoned to the south-east.

 

 “Remember when I joined APC, I didn’t join APC because I needed to insist that the south-east must be the next president. I never did,” he said.

 

“I joined APC with all my heart and the support of Mr President, and in appreciation for all his support, even when I was in the other party, and also to prove that the Igbo man believes so much in one Nigeria.

 

“That is the reason I joined APC, apart from my protest of the injustice meted to south-east in PDP.”