 Tonight we discuss the weekend's impending move to the APC and its implications for the River State APC. And Speaker Abbas says 10th National Assembly will give traditional rulers constitutional roles. This is top politics. I'm Mary Annicole. Since his exit from office on May 29, 2023, former Governor Wike has remained a central figure of political discourse in River State. This is not unconnected with his alleged impending decampment to the all-progressive Congress APC and the possibility of him being considered as a minister by President Bola Amit. Sources say Wike is said to be moving towards the ministerial slot for River State and one of the demands being tabled before him for the appointments is that he must decamp to the APC. Though the Governor holds the prerogative to accept or term down the offer, some party loyalists have condemned the alleged move saying that Wike has frequently derided, has re-frequently derided the party and once described as cancer. They wondered why he wants to be infected with the same cancerous party. But joining us to discuss this is the Chairman of Emoha Local Government Area. He is Dr Chidi Lloyd. Thank you so much, Dr Lloyd, for joining us. Good evening. Thank you very much. How are you? Great. It's very interesting that we're even having this conversation in the first instance. Many have not necessarily forgotten what happened on May 29 because many would say or those who were watching the elections on board would say that Governor Wike has not hidden his love for the sitting President who obviously is in the opposition party and this has one way or the other fueled some of the problems within the PDP in which Governor Wike obviously emerged as governor. But let's start by addressing the concerns that the governor might feed the campaign to the APC. How true is this? First, let me correct an impression. You made a very, a very, very dangerous statement. When you said Governor Wike had not hidden his hatred for the sitting President, that is not correct. I said long, long. Oh, okay, okay. Yeah, that's correct. That is correct. First, I'd like to refer to your introductory speech when you asked why we are having this kind of conversation. I don't know why we'll be discussing an issue that does not exist. If you tell me which forum or at which forum has Governor Wike indicated that he would be leaving the People's Democratic Party for the All Progressive Congress. This has not happened and I don't think that journalists like you should be hitting on the polity with unfounded allegations. Governor Wike had instilled a bona fide member of the PDP and to say that one of the conditions given to him to become a minister is that he must defect to the APC. I want to quickly remind you that Governor Wike was not a member of the All Progressive Congress when he delivered the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ashwajua Med Bola Tinibu, in the press when he delivered the state to him. So I don't think that we should be hitting on the polity. Governor Wike, there is no such plan. At least for now, to my knowledge, that Governor Wike would be leaving the PDP for the APC. I recall that Governor Wike is not in politics for his personal aggrandizement. For him to take such a decision, there will be high-level consultations. The question will be, will he be going alone? What happens to the structure of the party? Of course, if Governor Wike is taking such a decision, it means that the entire reverse state will join him in that journey. So Governor Wike is not a politician of a small repute. Governor Wike, for the past, before, during, and after the elections, have made headlines in virtually all the national delis on a daily basis. So he's not the man who shies away from taking decisions. But the point I'm making is that there is no concentration for now on the table about Governor Wike dumping the people in the Democratic Party. Okay. I mean, I'm very happy that you helped me to lay the foundation for this conversation. Now, you clearly stated that the governor, who was a People's Democratic Party member, delivered for the opposition, knowing that your party had a presidential candidate who was on the PDP tickets and you also had a governor. Hold on, hold on. Let me just finish asking my question. And you had a governor on the same PDP tickets who, of course, you delivered the state vote. How do you help me understand, and those who are watching, why you would be in a certain party and decide to publicly disgrace or embarrass your party by returning somebody from the opposition? And of course, let's not forget that the governor also paid a constant call on the president, Tinuku, saying that while politics is over, it's time for governance. Also, again, showing that he supports the president openly. What does this mean for the PDP, not just in the state, but across the nation? Well, I'd like to remind you if you have forgotten. The reasons for Governor Wike and his four other colleagues of the G5 took the decision they took. It's not new to you. I'm sure you know the reasons. But in case you've forgotten, I'd like to remind you that the governors, the former governors of the APC and the PDP met separately in Lagos and in Asaba. Governors of the southern region met on a bipartisan manner to converse the fact that what they did now is a southern president. After eight years of President Buarez's reign that it is only natural and just for the presidency to come back to the south. And this was the principle about which they did what they did. So it was not hidden to anybody in Nigeria. It was visible to the deaf and audible to the blind. It was audible to the deaf and visible to the blind that Governor Wike had said that the PDP itself shot itself on the leg by not obeying the principles upon which the party was built. The party was built on the principle of rotation of presidency that it is only natural that after President Buarez's eight years that the presidency should gravitate to the south. Now Governor Wike and his colleagues did what they did based on that principle, not on any partisan motion. The PDP, if you are against Governor Wike of any male finance, what will you say about the PDP? He is the founder, he is the S. Y. Chairman, he is the who refused to heed to the tenants, the letters of their own constitution. So you must look at one thing that led to the other. If the Governor Wike did not just vote face, nobody had supported the PDP more than Governor Wike. You recall that while others were in far away Dubai and Doha and in other Emirate countries, Governor Wike and his colleagues were in Nigeria to support the party to ensure that the PDP remained afloat. And one would only wonder why the PDP would not adhere to the provisions of his own constitution. So you must look at that vis-à-vis the actions of the G5 governors. It is not proper for you to do cherry picking to choose the fact that Governor Wike shouldn't have been in his party and never another party. It was obvious that even the PDP and his presidential candidates said they can do without Governor Wike. We did not make any imputes into the presidential campaign and they went ahead even when the G5 governors had given them up to one week to the election of Governor Wike, gave them that clear, clear terms that the HRIU must resign so that at least that position can come to the South. He was no longer talking about the presidential candidate. Since the presidential candidate had emerged, they were only demanding that the chairman of the party would come back to the South. Because in the PDP, all we have in the PDP is just two baskets, two baskets. Whatever was in the South would rotate after four years to the North. And when it got to that time, they decided that they can call anybody's bluff. And the people of Riverstay spoke with their votes and we voted for a Southern president without minding the political party. We made a clear statement. It was not Governor Wike's decision alone. We, previous people, came out and massed and voted as you and I met Bola Chinibu. Forget those who are today for the thing that they were the ones who delivered Bola and Bola Chinibu in Riverstay. I'm sure that even Mr. President himself knows who did what to read the elections. You could not be delivering to presidential candidates at the same time after giving instructions to your followers in the APC to vote for former vice president Antigua Abumaka. Now, because Chinibu has won, you are now prime minister. You are now acting melodrama to say that you were the ones who delivered. President Chinibu knows who did what. Okay. Let me ask a question. Because we've had this conversation about who did what and why, you know, the G5 is where they are and all the things, the choices that they made. But let me take you back to the national convention. If Governor Wike had won the primaries and was the presidential candidate and a flag wearer for the People's Democratic Party and the same drama that's playing out now, the roles were reversed and this is the card or, you know, the hand that he was playing. Would you be singing the same song and saying, well, it's in principle, would Governor Wike not be really throwing stones and saying this was anti-party and maybe even dragging it all the way to what we saw what happened in the case of Uche-Sacons. We've seen many issues play out with Governor Wike at the center and many have also queried Governor Wike's actions saying that one person cannot be the party, that there are several other people who have voices and have opinions. But as far as I'm concerned, as far as you are concerned, Governor Wike is concerned, you are saying that he has nothing to do with anti-party. It is just a principle. Where does this principle come up in, you know, your party's manifesto or even in the constitution of your party? I would like to refer you to the several sub-trades of the PDP constitution as amended. When you read, it is copious that there is rotation, that the founding fathers of the political party based on rotation. So when you talk about whether if Wike had become the presidential candidate, of course that would have been the right thing to do because Wike would have been the presidential candidate of the southern extraction and recall that the Uche IU who represents the North was already national chairman. So it was only fair and just that you balance it and that is why even in the constitution of the federal republic that is enshrined what is called federal character. So that positions will not be left-sided on one part of the federation. That is what we bring about equity. That is what we bring about fairness. That will bring that and when there is equity and fairness, it will also dovetail to justice. So if Wike, we are the presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party. So where is the justice in the action that the G5 governor, including Governor Wike took? Yeah, I'm asking since we're talking justice. No, you said that there will be justice on equity. So let's talk about justice in this instance. What kind of justice was served in the case of the PDP and the G5 government? Have you been listening to me? I'm listening to you. So what kind of justice was done? If you were listening to me, if you are listening to me, the last question will not come up. I told you clearly what happened was the bad fact that the PDP refused to abide by their own constitution and recalled that the governors of the southern extraction as they then were admit in Lagos and in Asaba, where they all agreed that they will support a southern president and the communique was read. Can you hold on? Can you hold on a little bit? The communique was read by Gufomar Bokono, Ifain Atokowa, who became, who just is seen because the communique that he read and run off to become the vice presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party. So you can see for yourself what happened. So it doesn't matter how you describe Governor Wike's actions. But we, their followers, we, Governor Wike's followers, ask him to do what he did. Governor Wike is not a man who takes decisions, swam or took and learned it over his followers. We felt that the PDP was not, as it was then constituted, had no respect for the United States. So we went ahead. How could you, how could you constitute your campaign committee and you will not make, have imputes from the sitting governor of the state? How else do you want to describe the fact that they called the blocks? And we had hangers on to the former vice president who were urging him to go ahead, they can do without Wike. The result is what it is. The result is what you and I now know. We are no longer here in them. The likes of Sulu Elamidu, Alaji Sulu Elamidu, the likes of Babangida Ali, the likes of Philip Shwaibu, the likes, et cetera, et cetera. We don't know if I hear them. And the one who came two days to the presidential election, one who became the spokesman of, he was very prominent in the APC before he came two days to the election, Bawa, they called him something Bawa. It was the one going around, okay. Taking all kinds of things. So now it is obvious that even former vice president and people of America may also have known by now who his real enemies were. Okay, let's talk about the meeting that several meetings that Governor Wike and members of the G5 had on the president. Again, these are just rumors. I know that recently the governor was asked if he were to be given an opportunity to serve under this administration if he would do it. But then there are questions from pundits and I know that you're an ardent supporter of Governor Wike, so you'd be in a better position to answer this question. Many would say, especially those in the APC, don't forget that Governor Wike had described the APC that he of course delivered the president for as cancer and described the PDP as a headache, but then of course he delivered somebody before he delivered the president for the cancer party. Again, if he were to be given an opportunity to serve under this administration, there are those in the APC who will feel that he's an interloper of sorts and I'm using that word loosely here. Can Governor Wike be trustworthy to be handed an opportunity to work in an APC government, especially after what has played out in the PDP, even though you call it justice, even though you say that, well, the PDP did not honor the rules and regulations of zoning. But can we say that Governor Wike will not, once again, if something doesn't go in his favor, turn his back on whoever his principal is? Well, let me also tell you this. I'd like you to leave the president, Ahmed Volati Nibu, to worry about whether Wike is trustworthy. Don't begin to take medications on someone else's ailment, right? And secondly, I'd also like to tell you that Governor Wike described APC as he then was as cancer. I'm sure today you would have heard that the national, former national chairman of the APC has resigned alongside his secretary. Now, I also want to tell you that early stages of cancer can be cured by chemotherapy. Early stages of cancer can be cured by chemotherapy. So I tell you that the cancer has greatly dealt with. We have a new sheriff in town. So the sheriff is obvious what he's doing. You have seen the appointment of service chiefs. You have seen some of the policies that they have taken so far in less than 100 days. It's obvious signs of the chemo that is working. So the cancer is no longer there. It has been adequately taken care of by chemotherapy. So you're telling me that the cancer in the party was the APC chairman and the secretary, or is it that the president now becoming the president has cured the cancer automatically? You referred me to cancer and headache. I am not telling you that cancer can be cured by chemo. Chemotherapy is one of the processes of curing cancer. The administration that was there is no longer the same that is now. And we are seeing visible signs of the government that is serious. Now, this is the time for nation building. Governor Wike, if Mr. President gives him the opportunity, we, his supporters, will ask him to go and export what he did in River State to the center. It is not enough to stand and be criticized when you have an opportunity to contribute to nation building. We have no other country. There is no country for APC. There is no country for PDP. President Bola Amer Tinibu is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which also includes president from members of all the over 50 political parties that are in the country. So what I want you to take home, what I want you to take home tonight is that the cancer has sufficiently dealt with by chemotherapy. Okay. So this again, because you're saying that it's not enough to criticize on the outside is good to go there and also be part of, you know, the system. Absolutely. Is it safe to say that Governor Wike did all he did because he wanted a spot in the government of Bola Amer Tinibu? That will be an insult not to Governor Wike but to me. You don't expect me to react to that what you think question to me. The man who has been former minister, former local government chairman, former chief of staff, former governor for eight years, not governor of any other state, governor of river state. You say he did all. You people are part of the problem. But he won't be the first Governor. Please, I take an insult to that. You don't bring your program to get me insulted. No, I will take an insult to that. And I need you to apologize to me. But Governor Wike would not be the first governor to serve as a minister at the federal level. Of course, if Governor Wike, if the president finds him fit and proper, Governor Wike has all he takes to serve in the, in the, in the, in the cabinet of the federal republic of Nigeria. Okay. Well, I want to say thank you. Dr. Chibi Lloyd is the chairman of the local government area in river state. Always a pleasure to have you. Thank you for coming on this show. Thank you for coming. We'll take a quick break. Now, when we return, we will be talking about the speaker of the House of Representatives. We're saying that the House of Representatives is going to make sure that traditional rulers get constitutional rules. We'll be right back after this break.