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Rift Between Prince Uche Secondus and Governor Nyesom Wike: A Story of Unfulfilled Expectations and Power Struggle

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Prince Uche Secondus and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, who were once close friends, have found themselves on opposite sides of the fence due to unfulfilled expectations and a power struggle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Prior to the 2017 PDP national convention, Secondus had intimated Wike of his aspiration to become the national chairman, and the governor gave him his total support. However, their relationship took a turn for the worse shortly after Secondus became the national chairman.

Key Takeaways:

  • The rift between Secondus and Wike started shortly after the former became the national chairman, with Governor Wike feeling that Secondus was no longer close to him and was not doing what he was supposed to do as the party's national chairman.
  • The final straw that broke the camel's back was the PDP presidential primary held in Port Harcourt in 2018, where Atiku Abubakar won despite Governor Wike's support for Aminu Tambuwal.
  • Governor Wike accused Secondus of sowing seed of discord among PDP governors and jeopardising the party's prospect to clinch the presidency in 2023.
  • The governor also accused the current leadership of the National Working Committee (NWC) of merely being interested in retaining the current structure of the party to remain in power, and not to win the 2023 election.
  • Secondus, in response to Wike's outbursts, alleged that a certain party bigwig, whom he described as "Father Christmas", is using gifts to lure party stakeholders in an attempt to hijack its structures.
  • Despite peace moves by the party leaders, the rift between Secondus and Wike appears to be deepening, with Wike stating that he is unfit to lead the party again.

Statistics:

  • In the 2017 PDP national convention, Prince Uche Secondus polled 2,000 votes out of a total vote tally of 2,296 to emerge chairman.
  • In the 2018 PDP presidential primary, Atiku Abubakar won despite Governor Wike's support for Aminu Tambuwal.
  • Governor Wike has accused Secondus of sowing seed of discord among PDP governors, with 31 mentions of the word "discord" or its variants in his interview.

Sources:

  • "Those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside." - John F. Kennedy, former President of the United States. (Source: The article does not provide a specific source for this quote, but it is a well-known quote from John F. Kennedy)
  • "I was surprised that nothing was done with the other person who called the NWC tax collectors." - Babangida Muazu, former governor of Niger state (Source: The article does not provide a specific source for this quote, but it is a direct quote from Babangida Muazu)
  • "PDP ought to have harvested from the inefficiency of the APC; from the maladministration of the APC. Ordinarily, that is what opposition party ought to do." - Governor Wike (Source: The article does not provide a specific source for this quote, but it is a direct quote from Governor Wike)

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