Secondus spoke at the signing of MoU ahead of 2019 election in Abuja on Monday.
The leading opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, led others to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, over the need to sack the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in 2019.
On Monday, in Abuja, the parties numbering 36, including Reformed All Progressives Congress, R-APC, that recently emerged as a faction from the ruling All Progressive Congress, expressed total displeasure over the wanton waste of lives in the country and alleged moves to kill the nation’s democracy.
During the meeting, the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, urged all to be firm in their resolve to oust the Buhari administration.
He warned that they should expect the administration to fight back, but they should remain determined and make a success of the battle.
The statement by Secondus reads:
Address of the PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus at the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding MOU between the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and 38 other political parties at the Shehu Yar Adua Centre, Abuja on Monday July 9th, 2018.
I welcome you all to this historic occasion that is going to be a watershed in the political evolution of our great country.
I liken what is happening here today to many landmark events in our political development as a nation starting from the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates that became Nigeria in 1914.
Other such land mark days in our country includes the day the colonial masters transited political power to Nigerians on October 1, 1960 after tortuous struggle by our forefathers.
That historic day 14th January 1970 when the 30 months brutal civil war in Nigeria ended with the no victor, no vanquished understanding declared by the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.
Today is also like that day on October 1, 1979 when the military handed over power to a civilian administration.
In a day like this, we cannot forget the struggle that led to the elimination of Abacha regime on June 8, 1998, the struggle and sacrifice that culminated in the May, 29th 1999 final return to democracy in our land.
Another landmark day in our polity that we must remember in a day like this is the first ever successful transfer of power from civilian to civilian administration that happened with the PDP surrendering power to APC on May 29th 2015.
I have taken us this memory lane for us to properly appreciate the import of what we are gathered here to do today to help rescue our nation that is presently going through hardship with endless killings and blood flow in a country that is not at war with any nation.
We have all witnessed all forms of intimidation aimed at suffocating democracy in our land, frame ups, arrests and total breakdown of law and order in some areas like Zamfara State where a Governor had to relinquish his Chief Security Officer status.
Just last week the APC conquest regime came up with Executive Order which all political watchers including civil society groups liken to Decree 2 of the military era.
We know why they are doing this on the eve of a general election because they know the people have turned their back on them but they want to retain power at all cost including cowing us down.
But we cannot be cowed, if our heroes past had been cowed down in these historic events I just highlighted above we would not have democracy or a nation today.
We must stand up for the rule of law to prevail or posterity would judge us harshly.
Our leaders were fearless and united and they rescued this country from draconian regimes in the past.
By what we are doing today, fear has taken flight and spirit of God has taken over, we must stand up to defend our people.
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I therefore call on all of us to be strong, steadfast and courageous; let’s chase out APC in our lives and form a National Government that will bring succour to our people.
Let us be firm in our decisions anticipating that our enemies will come up with all forms of intrigues and strategies to rig election but we call on the international community to watch happenings in our polity with an eagle eye to save democracy in our country.
In conclusion, my dear people, lovers of democracy, the report I got last night shows that Nigerians are still being killed in Plateau and some other states. I urge us to stand up for a minute silence for the souls of the innocent Nigerians who died in these senseless killings.
Let’s collectively say-#Buhari! Nigerians’ lives matter, Stop the killings Now.
