Niger Delta coalition cautions Wike over plans to discard PDP micro-zoning arrangement
…insists chairmanship must go to South West
A coalition of Niger Delta groups, comprising Niger Delta Freedom Volunteer Force and Niger Delta People Peace Force have cautioned the Rivers State governor, Nyeson Wike for supporting the former Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus against the arrangements by the PDP stakeholders in the South that micro-zoned the Chairmanship to the South West.
The group further demanded that the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) should resign from his position if he is interested in the party’s presidential race.
The group in a statement on Wednesday and signed by the chairman of the coalition Harry Lawson and Secretary, Preye Wilson, in Port Harcourt, told Wike and governors of the South to respect the agreement reached by all the stakeholders in the South and queue behind the candidates from the South West.
Parts of the statement read, “The governors from the zone at a well attended meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following a motion moved by Governor Nyesom Wike in the presence of all stakeholders, resolved to micro-zone the position of the National Chairman to the South West. The decision of the governors was to prevent a situation where colliding interest for the exalted position will plunge the zone and the party into another series of crises.
“However, there are strong indications that the same Governor Wike has reneged on this decision and has shown strong support for his Kinsman, Prince Uche Secondus contrary to the decision of the zone. Wike is also mobilising other governors from the zone to throw their weight behind Secondus as against the decision of other stakeholders.
“We therefore call on Governor Wike and his colleagues to toe the path of honour, respect and avoid any act that will denigrate resolutions from the zone,” they stated.
On the allegation that the acting PDP chairman is eyeing the position of the Presidency come 2019, they said, “We further call of the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi to resign from his position and publicly declare his interest for the Presidency come 2019.
“It is morally wrong for the Acting Chairman to be occupying his present position and also working behind the scene to hijack the presidential ticket to his favour.
“We wish to state that Makarfi should either step down and make his interest public or abandon his ambition.”
The group reiterated their unalloyed loyalty for the PDP, saying “We wish to restate our loyalty and dedication to our great party, the PDP. PDP has and will remain a great and strong party and that explains why there are lots of interests.
“We pledge our loyalty to the party’s leadership. But we will resist any attempt to hijack the upcoming convention and stir fresh crisis in the party.”
Myke Uzendu, Abuja
