- Welcomes former Gov Duke; Unveils new Secretariat
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The National leadership of the People Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed that Cross River will remain the Party’s stronghold despite recent worrying developments and defections of some members in the State.
This is as the Party boasted that it has served a quit notice to Governor Ayade who will regret his decision because some governors are already set to join their 14 PDP counterparts from the ruling APC.
National Chairman of the Party, Prince Uche Secondus gave the assurance in Calabar while unveiling the PDP’s new State Secretariat following the seizure of its former office by Governor Ben Ayade who recently defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The former Secretariat, located on the popular Murtala Mohammed Highway, had housed the country’s main opposition party for over 20 years before its forceful takeover and conversion to the APC State Secretariat on the orders of Governor Ayade.
But addressing a huge crowd of PDP faithful and supporters at the unveiling ceremony in Calabar, the National Working Committee (NWC) led by its Chairman, Prince Secondus said everything possible would be done to ensure the State remains in its fold come 2023 general elections and beyond.
“PDP is the party of the future. We are coming to reclaim and reposition Nigeria, we have the experience and we are determined to restructure the country and hand it over to the youths. Nobody can stop Nigerian youths from having a voice including on social media whether, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. We are coming to restore the freedom of Nigerians especially the youths.
Secondus also commended eight members of the State House of Assembly and some members of the National Assembly that have remained in the party despite pressure and threats from obvious quarters for them to dump the Party.
Prince Secondus, who also used the occasion to formally receive former Governor Donald Duke back into the party’s fold, noted that Cross Riverians are still acknowledging and savouring his impressive track that saw the state becoming the tourism destination in the country with great innovative ideas that included the popular annual Calabar Carnival and now-defunct Obudu Mountain race.
He expressed delight over the enthusiasm shown by the people and assured them that their faith in PDP would be rewarded going forward.
The PDP National Chairman also inaugurated the State Caretaker Committee of the Party headed by former Deputy Governor, Barrister Efiok Cobham.
On Governor Ayade’s defection, prince Secondus said; “This is a quit notice to Governor Ayade; he should begin to pack his load and we also know that he is regretting joining the APC because more governors are joining the 14 PDP governors from the ruling APC.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, said they were in Cross River State to strengthen the Party, inaugurate the new Secretariat, receive new members, and issue a quit notice to APC ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“What we have seen today is clear proof that Cross River State is PDP. We came here to also support the National Chairman of the Party in the inauguration of the new caretaker committee for Cross River and to also welcome formally back to the PDP, our friend, former Governor Donald Duke.
“We are determined to reclaim what belongs to us by 2023; that is the leadership of Nigeria and that of Cross River State,” he assured the cheering crowd.
It was indeed a gathering of top PDP bigwigs in the Cross River State capital with notable names like former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; and PDP Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2019 general elections and former Anambra State Governor, Dr Peter Obi, gracing the event.
Also visible at the event were Sokoto State Governor and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Governor Udom Emmanuel; and former Cross River Governor Liyel Imoke
However, a conspicuous absentee at the ceremony was Rivers State governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike, earlier touted as one of the dignitaries to storm the South-South state for the occasion.
The new PDP Secretariat is located along the popular Mary Slessor Avenue and carnival route in Calabar. The building used to house a popular name in the State hospitality industry, the Zoo Garden Hotel, owned by a former Local Government Chairman in the state.
