Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Patricia Etteh has called out the newly elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus for mentioning her name in his victory speech at the recently concluded national convention of the party held on Saturday in Abuja.
Hon. Etteh who expressed her displeasure in a post on her Facebook page stated that she is a member of the Board of Trustee, All Progressive Congress (APC) and wondered why her name would be mentioned at a convention she neither attended nor was a party to. She insisted that her statement was not to please any party but to set the record straight.
Her post read
This was the way Secondus started his acceptance speech:
PDP – Power to the People
Power to the People-PDP.
Your Excellencies,
The former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR.
Your Excellency the former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Nnamdi Sambo
Your Excellencies the former Senate Presidents, Anyim Pius Anyim and David Mark
His Excellency the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu
Your Excellencies the former Speaker of the House of Representatives Demji Bankole and Patricia Ette”
REJOINDER TO THE MENTION OF MY NAME IN THE VICTORY SPEECH OF THE NEWLY ELECTED NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS
I, Rt. Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, hereby issue a disclaimer with respect to the mention of my name in victory speech of the newly elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, as follows;
1. That I am unequivocally not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP);
2. That I was not in attendance at PDP's national convention of Saturday, December 9, 2017;
3. Owing from (1) and (2) above, I do not consent to the mention of my name in such a political gathering;
4. That I am a card-carrying member and member of the Board of Trustees (BOT), the apex Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC);
Unfortunately, this can only happen in Nigeria, where people use other peoples' name to shine and gain credence.
I'm disappointed in the play of shenanigans in the political climate of Nigeria; why I, Rt. Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, can be forgotten so soon, having achieved this much politically in the midst of men, being the first and still the only Female Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Let me sound it loud and clear, that history cannot be changed, as I have paid my dues in the service of this nation, and I refuse to be celebrated after death, as against being celebrated while alive. If the right people fail to recognize my service to the nation, my God will fight for me.
In conclusion, I hereby state that no party should take my humility and gender for granted, believing that I cannot move if I feel like. I am an ardent advocate for good governance, and if I deem it that the running of affairs of a certain political party is not in the best interest of the citizens of Nigeria, I will not hesitate to make my move. The intendment of this statement is not to please any political party or association, but to set the records straight.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Happy Sunday," she added.
Signed.
Rt. Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, CFR
