By our correspondent
Top leaders and delegates of the Peoples’ Democratic Party from the North Central zone have pledged their support for the chairmanship ambition of Prince Uche Secondus.
At a rousing welcome speeches by leaders of the zone at Ibro Hotel,Abuja this week, Secondus was described as the right chairman needed now for a party seeking to defeat the ruling party.
The leaders led by former Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang recalled the current travails of the party and posited that an experienced party chief like Secondus is the best option for the party.
Jang who commended the humility of Prince Secondus said PDP can only win in 2019 when a tested chairman is elected next month.
Addressing delegates and leaders at the meeting, Prince Secondus noted that “PDP is at a cross road and needs a leadership that would hit the ground running”, adding that “Our party at the moment is not at a comfort zone and therefore requires purposeful leadership as it cannot afford any waste of time.
“With election around the corner there is no time to learn, the party need an experienced person and I think I have it having served the party at various levels meritoriously.
“Let me assure you that as your National Chairman I would deliver votes and if I can’t deliver votes from my constituency I should resign.
Listing some of the achievements that stand him out to lead the party, Prince Secondus said under his watch as National Organizing Secretary, the party had the best internal and external elections.
He also said that as acting National Chairman he set up a special committee that looked into the causes of the failure of the party in 2015 general election pointing out that the post-mortem report which has been adopted by the National Executive Committee NEC would be a huge guide for him to rebuild, reform and regain the party.
Secondus also reminded the delegates how he saved the party from an impending constitutional crisis by ignoring the urge of the former National Chairman Alhaji Áli Modu Sheriff, who wanted him not to preside over the Port Harcourt convention and which became the grounds for the Supreme Court to dismiss Sheriff.
“If you give me your mandate, under my watch, I would decentralize power to states and get our members more involved in the running of the party.
“I would ensure that popular candidates fly our flag because when popular person hold the ticket, the election is 50% won.
“The 2019 election is for us to take if we do the tight thing and I can assure you that I have the skill, I have what it takes and the experience if you give me the mandate.
“I would not be distracted; I would leverage on the peace and support the party enjoys in my state and in my zone.
