 se me lenaya fubara on the same day presented the twenty-twenty-twenty-four appropriation bill to five members of the State House of Assembly loyal to him. This came a few minutes after the demolition of the State House of Assembly complex. The twenty-seven members of the House loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory is on weekend will recently defect from the People's Democratic Party to the all-progressive congress we are now present at the city. Take a listen. This excellence also commissioned consultants who went into the structure and came up with an advice that it was no longer habitable and not very conducive for business. On the strength of that advice, the government had decided to demolish the structure and also provide a fitting place for members of parliament to transact their business. The rapidity at which we commenced today will tell you that we are prepared to do it. We didn't request and ensure that this will be fit for legislative business. Joining us now is the publisher of Kristina reports, Goswyl Jumbo and former APC spokesperson Darlentine Wauju. Also joining us in the publicity circuitry, APC University, Chibikei Kinga. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to post politics. Hello. Hello. Good evening. Darlentine, the drama or the tragic comedy that is happening in rivers is so disturbing now. So what would you tell our viewers about what is happening in rivers? Thank you very much, viewers. Unfortunately, my state again is experiencing another round of crisis. But this time, we are aware that all these actions of the government is as a response to the pains of the defection of the 27 members of the House of Assembly who joined APC in the last 48 hours. You are aware that they have had intractable problems in PDP, which culminated in the defection of 27 House of Assembly members to our party, APC. The government led by Governor Senfubara being very pained and hiked by that development went for the palm of flesh by the demolition of one of the relics of the states, the river state as an assembly complex. Unfortunately, that complex had been in existence and is one of our relics. There was no need for that demolition. Taking into consideration that such huge funds, humongous funds that will be expanded in the destruction and reconstruction of this edifice could have been channeled to other sectors yearning for investments. And these funds would have been plugged into those areas that will help create the enabling environment that will create jobs, that will improve on the education sector, improve on the agriculture sector. And then look at some of the major challenges we have had in the state under development and poverty, ravaging poverty. So the funds that will be now expanded in demolition and rebuilding of this edifice could have been channeled to those areas for the greater good of the reverse report. So as a party, we are unhappy with it, that's why we are opposed to it, but the impunity is by the day getting more expanded and as a party we condemn it in all its entirety. It is just natural that as an APC stalwart, you would condemn it. And to any sensible Nigerian, this is condemnable, but having said that, if the tables were to be turned, people in your party too probably wouldn't have done any better. How would you respond to that? Well, I do not think so because APC as a party in reverse state, in the build up to the 23 elections, did prepare very well to OSHA in people who rented government. Government that will be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the economic and social survival of these citizens. But unfortunately we do know that PDP is known for these type of prices where they try to continuously recycle problems within the state and enhance under development. As a party, should APC take over the reins of governance in reverse state, APC will OSHA in the best government and the government that the people have been for over the years. Would you now think that your remark now comes with a change of irony? It was the PDP characters in reverse that helped you people win the presidential poll in reverse. It was the executive of the APC that if you want to claim the credit for APC, the executive council of the APC that did it for the APC was suddenly demonstrated a couple of days ago for a care taker executive to come into place. I guess with the view that your national secretary announced that the 27 members will be jettisoning the party. So what will be your response to that? Well, I will speak the truth and nothing but the truth. I will recall that in the build up to the 23 elections. One of the heavyweights in PDP chief Nies Oweike, the governor as he then was and today the minister of the FCT mobilized his supporters to give a support, to give the proper support to the president Ahmed Polatini in the election, which helped with the support of we, the leaders of APC in reverse state, a couple of us who supported with Nies Oweike with deliver the president. That is correct. But that's not to say that the entire PDP in reverse state are people who are progressively minded. A couple of them have resorted to their old ways of trying to create more crisis and return development. So the national leadership of our party and my work did not at any point in time contemplate that 27 assembly members were defecting and that was the reason for instituting a caretaker committee. Rather, what was the issue was that APC leadership at the state, particularly the party executive, have had intractable challenges, disagreements that have gone beyond their control, wearing the party now had two leadership structures at the party, one led by one, a make-up decay and then another led by a later effort. Both of them commanding some troops in the executive, which was now split into two and had created problems and made it impossible for the party to progress. It was on the basis of that that the national executive committee, we see that this power to the national working committee from the second to the third of August to have to manage the party. And then they saw that there was reason after factions of the parties led their delegations to meet the national chairman. It was in that situation that the party, the national executive party found that there was an absolute need for them to reject the party which led to the institution of the caretaker committee that we have today. And the timing was such that it was a couple of days just to the defection of the 27 members. And it was just a couple of days too to the very, very interesting synch song of the minister of the federal capital to be on your mandate. Don't you think the coincidences are a bit of... And it is even alleged now by APC traditionalists in rivers that the interim executive committee is actually made up of loyalists to former governor Wike. How would you want to respond to all those? Well, some of them speak from both sides of their mouths. I am a foundation member of APC. I was there from day one and I was the leader of APC in Iqarelo Kokokne where the former minister of transportation hails from. I was his leader until such a time I left. I can tell you that there is no one in APC who can say that he is more a traditionalist to APC than myself. Let me say for purposes of respect to the former minister of transportation. Apart from him at his own level, I do not think that there is any other person who can assume that he played more roles, better roles than myself and a few others in the party. Reason being that we fought for this party, we have stood for this party and we are disenchanted with the divisions that have trade this party over the years. And there is need for us all to today look for a possible way to reject the party. But I can tell you that in the most recent, our governorship candidate Toye Ko whom I support so strongly till tomorrow, I believe that Toye Ko is better prepared, was better prepared and is still better prepared to do the job of governancy. Unfortunately, politics has its own way. So I can tell you that I was part of the delegation that Toye Ko as the governorship candidate and leader took to the national chairman and national working committee of the party to ask the national chairman and the party to intervene to reject the party and that as a member of this committee my membership was drawn from the fact that I was part of Toye Ko's delegation to the place. Chieftonio Kocha also had his own faction and then Magnus Sabe and a few others also led a group of SDP members even though they were former members of APC who went to SDP. They also went to the national chairman and national working committee to ask that everybody be brought together so we can have a new start and that's where we are today. So that is the politics of APC which is not so much the issue in contention now. The issue in contention now is that the Appropriation Bill for 2024 in your state has been officially presented to a group of parliamentarians that is officially less than a quorum of the state as of assembly. I guess they are working on the junction they got yesterday that the Edison EAS faction is the recognized faction of the legislature. And what will be your response to that same inauguration? Yeah, that is what we woke up to see this morning. It is all choreographed. Like yesterday APC as a party in the state did grant a press conference wherein we allotted reverse people. So did they men. By S.P.A.T., which Danago, just Danago go, granted was purposely done to prepare the way for the Edison AHA led as of assembly to receive the budget from the governor today. I know that a four or five member as of assembly is an aberration to democracy where we have 32 members minus one deceased. If assuming without considering that they wanted a few members to be there, they have their laws, they have their house rules. Okay, okay. I'll come back to you. Let me talk to Dalyntin Wajju now. Dalyntin Wajju, are you there? Yes, please. What is your take on this melodrama happening in your state? Sad but funny? Unfortunately, this is not what we desire. But I think that the government of PDP in river states is orchestrating all these challenges to have an easy way out. To advance checks and balances because that we have the majority of fans of assembly. It is our responsibility to check the arbitrariness like what you have seen today. Today they have exposed themselves because this government and this party PDP are interested in ensuring that they do not follow due process. And without due processes, these are anti-democratic actions that retard development and is an unfortunate development. And we ask that all world meaning Nigerians should and those who believe in democracy, transparency and accountability should speak up. Let me quickly get to one of our participants, Goswil Jombo. Goswil Jombo, are you there? Yes, good evening. Good evening, Goswil Jombo. What is happening in your state? What is happening in a state that is ordinarily one of the iconic states of the federation? And where, even if one were to look into the history of Nigeria for centuries, are you guys have been interacting with modernity and westernization? What is happening that has gotten to the level of this vandalism and share? Go ahead, please. Not much like my friend and brother Chibi K. Kendiya. He was with us in government house and he worked with me so we came in directly. We know he can relate to the things that we say in this evening here. From the point where it was clear that our elder brother, Nesom Wikie, who is now the FCT minister, from the point it was clear that he was going to become the governor. We expected a day like this to come. His style of politics, his brand of politics, his modus operandi, his SOP. It is what is playing out. The key actors in the drama that is playing out in River State are people who underwent his tutelage, who were groomed by him. So we don't expect anything different from what we are seeing. The only parts, and for us as spectators who are watching the whole drama from the sideline, we think the complaints from the APC are hardly hold water. The APC in River State is supporting the PDP. The APC in River State is also criticizing the PDP. So which one are we taking? On which side are they? We have appointed the former governor as a minister in the government. The former governor is now a minister in the government at the center. He has a son who is now the governor of the state. And a lot is happening around him. So there is criticism or endorsement. It doesn't hold water much. For me, as a media person, a public affairs analyst, when I look at the things that are happening, I think it is the process of educating River State from the confusion that the political actors have put it in the past couple of years, eight years and thereabout. And like I said in the program here, sometime ago, River State is in a state of affairs, especially the economy of the states, especially the way and means of the survival of the subsistence of the good life of the people of River State. It has been in suspension. And at the point where the prime governor decided to look at what are those indices that if stimulated can jumpstart, reactivate the economic life of River State, that is where the crisis broke out. And there are all kinds of rumors flying out, money that should be paid here and there, the decision on whether to pay pensioners or not to pay them, whether it is the waste of resources or not and all of that. And there reactivated the Songhai firm, the banana firm, the H.A. firm, the Bori shoe factory and several other economic stimulants that were in place. And at that point the disagreement started. The issue of the demolition of the house of assembly that happened today, fine, there are different sides to it. On the one side is an edifice that one of the landmarks and then there is also the issue of the integrity status of that facility. The former governor himself said it on record that that building is fall out and needs to be fixed. And then after the explosion and the fire incident that happened October 30th, there was also indications from experts that that building needs to be rigid. So and then we saw the demolition today. Maybe the governor is taking that drastic measure. So, God's way, God's way, God's way, God's way, God's way, God's way, God's way, God's way. As a media person, you are looking straight into my eyes and you are telling the world that as a media person it was probably because of the reports of professionals that that structure may have been defective that they sent caterpillars there today not because of the defection of the 27 members. Yes, I don't see any connection to the defection of anybody. People have always been defecting. In 2015, all of us that were serving in the river state government, all of us were moved to the APC. No building was demolished. And then all along, even recently, just early this year before the election, a lot of defection happened. Even after the election, the defection happened. But you know, but as a journalist, God's way, God's way, God's way, God's way, as a journalist, but you know the facts are different. When you moved in 2015, you moved to the sitting governor. In this instance, the 27 of moved without the sitting governor and you know, will control the executive powers of the state. So, the facts are not similar. Do you know that? No, no, not the facts, the circumstances are, the facts are different, we are talking about the circumstances, in that case a governor moved his officials, the functionaries in his administration to a new party, in this case the government is splitting up some people who decided to express their constitutional rights of association decided to move from one party to another. So tying it to a government looking at a public facility, a public structure and based on whatever the findings that the experts deployed to run integrity tests on that facility are advising. Okay, a jumbo. I don't see the connection. Okay, let me quickly ask you this before I go to another person. Gosswheel, I was particularly following the story this morning and I was shocked to know that nobody bothered, nobody really bothered to pick out, to take out the pieces of furniture, nobody bothered to take out the electronic gadgets, the air conditioning. So apart from the structure that was demolished, billions of Naira worth of valuables were also crushed with that building because somebody believes that that building must go down to prove that he is in charge in River State. I think we need to step back from any judgmental posture. The governor has not said that he is bringing down that building because he wants to show that he is in charge. By the way, is he not in charge? Is he supposed to overemphasize that? Is he even supposed to say it by whether words or actions? You know, I don't think anybody is showing anything. For me as a development engineer, when I see that experts have looked at the building and they think, okay, look at all the buildings that collapse in Lagos and several lives that were lost. So would we want that kind of thing again in River State? We need to, I think we need to be objective here as much as we want to tap into politics. Let's look for the facts that objectively, dispassionately tied together the two issues. Let's not integrate them literally. At least this fact should not be controversial and that fact is the fact that the constitutional federal republic of Nigeria at the level of the state envisages that there will be three co-equal arms of government, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. As we speak now, in River State, the physical infrastructure that should serve the legislature has been crushed. Do we agree on that? You see any interference with the operations, the functions of the legislature as the governor at any time going to disrupt the sitting of the legislature. It has never happened. Neither of the factions sitting, whether the AHA-led faction or the Amihuli-led faction has been disrupted by the executive arm, the seats. I think the one who look at the issue of the building that is, I think it's about making sure that they have a building that is safe for them to be able to sit down there that will not have a situation where 32 lawmakers, you remember the Soliso plane crash that several people died. Let me go to your colleague. I'll be back, I'll be back. I'll come back to you, I'll come back to you. Darlington, hello? Yes, I'm home. Yes, please. You must have listened to your colleague on this show, a non-journalist, a non-media person in your area. And he believes that the demolition could have been instructed by the professional recommendation of experts who visited post the arson and probably this thing was demolished based on the report. How would you want to respond to that? Okay, thank you very much. I think that I've listened to the rationalizations of Gospo. Gospo is an interest-side party. He's coming under the cloak of a public analyst. That's not correct. If you watch his narrative and the trajectory he has taken, the analysis, you'll find out that he is pure and simple, a supporter of PDP and the government at the state. So that's why, irrespective of what the recommendations or exceptions he has made for the reasons, for demolition, for the reasons for the actions of the governor, he cannot stand. But let me correct an impression. Mr. Gospo, the last time I worked in government was in 2011. So for you to come on air to say that we were in government together and I worked with you on that yes or we can. Yes or we can. Yes or we can. It was government for eight years. I did not work with him. I did not step into that government house. That is the truth. But the truth here is that all the actions that have taken place in the riverside in the recent days are all governmental conspiracy and all governmental propaganda. Girls too was taking a complete control of governance in riverside. We are not interested in supporting checks and balances. The government wants to run a solo government. A situation where a government will support a five man committee in the house of assembly to the child ring of the larger constituents. It's most appalling and you support the fact that the government which had shut out 27 members and their constituents and are dealing with only four or about five members is most challenging and I do not think that as APC in riverside we will support that. That is why we are against it. We are not interested in the divisions they have had in their party as PDP. They should continue to have their divisions because that divisions had come through us before and the capital has on it and then got government. So now that they have their own division we are interested in ensuring that we take their members as much as they did last time to us. And then we will come to the government. Okay, let me give the gentleman a fair opportunity to respond to the two points we've made. Goswil Chibikay is saying that you know what he was not in the government house in 2015 that it was the last time he worked there was in 2011. And that he believes that you have a vested interest but feigning the pretending to be an innocent public analyst. How would you want to respond to those accusations? Okay, first of all there is no misrepresentation of facts about a working relationship. I started working in government house from 2008 and then I was made the chief secretary to the deputy governor January 2013. So from 2008 to 2011 we worked together. I was in the media department of the deputy governor's office and he was in the office of the chief of staff. So there is no misrepresentation of facts when I say we work together in government house. Just that I did infuse the dates when we work together. He can remember we were all there in government house. So there is no misrepresentation of facts here. As per his assertion that I am pro PDP, pro the government and all of that. I quit politics on the 27th of January 2016 and I've never involved myself in politics. My name is not on any party register anywhere in the world. I remain a political, I remain neutral, I remain objective. And I am able to give the analysis I am given because I am not connected to the situation. I am not in the arena, I am a spectator and by the side. Let's not fabricate situations that do not exist. If you say the governor is trying to assert his authority, is trying to subsume and masculate the lawmakers. Let's bring the facts. The M Edison, the AHA faction has been sitting. The Martin's, Amiulis faction has been sitting and the governor has not interfered with that. Tell me he has interfered and then I will agree with you. But Gosswheel, I know Gosswheel. The governor now ignores the decision of a competent court of law. So the governor ignores that. The court has said that this is the recognized speaker of the reverse status of assembly. So who else is the governor supposed to present the project to? But Gosswheel, I just wanted to respond to this. I know Gosswheel. Gosswheel, to you, the assing, the chamber of the ass of assembly going ablaze, whilst the impeachment session was about to happen, was a coincidence. It must have been from your analysis. And the demolition from your analysis as earlier posted is perhaps on the recommendation of the professionals that visited. I guess... No, I think you referred to me not to impute words I have not said. I don't know how the fire in the house of assembly occurred. Just like everybody heard about it. I wasn't even in Portugal. I was in my hometown of Bonilla Island as at the time it happened. So I wasn't anywhere around that facility. So I don't know how it happened. You know, whether it's a coincidence, whether it is not, is what I don't know. And I have never said I know. So tying me to it, I mean it doesn't, an incident happened. And the governor as the chief security officer of the state, you know, asked to come in and, you know, inspect the place. And probably from what the commission of information was saying earlier today, you know, as assembly experts to make an assessment of the building, which anybody will expect the responsible government to do. And now that's based on that recommendation that that building is faulty. And he decides to bring it down to put up a new edifice that is structurally resilient, you know, and safe enough for the lawmakers to sit. What is the bad thing about that? So for me, let's not criticize for the sake of criticism. And by the way, the APC government is the party or the whole progressive Congress is, you know, trying to promote here. Let's also understand that this whole thing may even be actually the activities, you know, at the back end of who, who, who, what if, what if is the APC government that's actually, you know, giving the guiding light to the governor on what to do. We may never know this is politics. This is reverse state. The politicians, they are hardly neither here nor there. And I said it on this program the last time you invited me that reverse state has always been PDP. When I know my friend and brother, Tbk Ikenga, he was PDP. He was not APC. I was not even a member of APC. Okay, let's give him, let's give him, let's give him a fair chance to, to respond to some of the, some of the subtle allegations he made. Ikenga, according to, according to God's will, you, you are, you are like, you know, you are not consistent. When he knew you, you were in PDP. Now he suits you, you are, you are talking as though any member of the PDP is, should be seen as a political villain. How would you want to respond to that? Well, he should also tell us why he ran away from politics because it became very hot and he could not participate for that. He could not stand the heat, that's why he ran away. But let me tell you, I was in PDP, all of us were all in PDP and we moved with Rotimi and Mechi to APC. That's why I did say that I'm a foundation member of APC from 2013 and I'm still in APC till date. The point being made here is that the government, the government and party PDP in River State are not doing, are not involved, are not taking programs that are people who rented. They are chasing vendetta. They are after personal egos, petty politics. The government and PDP should today concentrate on delivering the goods and services that river people yearn for and not to go back to the days of campaigns that campaigns are over. They ought to continue to take on good governance, take the people out of poverty and usher in the present. Chibike, let me even ask you, your namesake, you know, former governor Chibike and Mechi, what is the status in your party now in River State? Well, former governor Chibike and Mechi and former minister of transportation is still a member of APC to the best of my knowledge up to today. So, if you still a member of the APC, this interim caretaker committee that you, that the national secretariat has instituted in River State, where does this die role now in the newly constituted caretaker committee? Well, I was drafted from the former faction which was loyal to him because I was part of those who went with Toye Ko, our governorship candidate to see the national chairman. It was on the basis of that I was selected. Like I said the other time, so now we have all become one, no more factions. So, the level I am now in the party as a public secretary I can no longer discuss factions. I believe that APC is one today in River State and our interest is to try to win elections and take over the rest of government from PDP in River State. Goswil, let's wrap up with you. It's not looking good. If you are a bona fide media person and you are generally, as you have claimed, you are generally a non-partisan or a political on these issues, you will agree with me that what is happening now in rivers does not quite paint a good portraiture of governance in any state, not to talk of rivers. Do we agree on that? Okay, first of all, before I respond to that, let me clarify. We said that politics became too hot and so I had to run away. I didn't run away from politics. I quit politics on divine direction. God spoke to me to quit politics. So I obeyed and quit politics. Nothing else to it. There was nothing hot. It's our state. We are here. There is nothing happening anywhere. We are all here. That is one. So let me clarify that. Secondly, I'm not on trial here. God's reasonable as a media personality. My reputation is consolidated. So I'm not on trial here. Then coming back to what you say, yes. The picture is not good at all. Whether anybody wants to say his APC or PDP or neutral or whatever, what is happening in rivers state, it's not the best. It's not what should happen. We should have a state where after the politics has been played, governance should now be mainstreamed. The economic well-being of the people of the state should now take the center state. And then the various levers and streams of government should be able to link up with themselves and harness whatever support they can muster for the governor who is the leader of the park, the team lead for governance in the state. To be able to deliver on the promised deliverables to the people. That's why we leave it. The time is quite... Everybody should come together and support the government to be able to make life better for the people of the state. That's my position. Thank you very much. I agree with you that it is not looking well. Thank you very much gentlemen. We really appreciate the sacrifices you've made to add value to the program today and enlighten our viewers about what is happening in your state. We wish you all the very best and we pray that reverse will go in the right direction. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.