Rivers APC Denies Wike’s Involvement In Party Screening

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[00:00:05][music] Welcome to Citizens Dialogue. Today we'll bring you the latest breaking news across Nigeria. From audience update to insightful analysis, we'll guide you through the stories that matters. Now let's get started.

[00:00:21]>> [music] >> Shop allocation exercise begins in [music] Abia.

[00:00:30]In another development, Quanasur opens up on fallout with [music] Bhari.

[00:00:37]Rivers APC denies Wik's involvement in party screening. I am Cason and we'll be right back after this break.

[00:00:57]>> [music] [music] >> Joining us now to break down these headlines is a political analyst Vincent Okoro. It's a pleasure to have you join us, Vincent.

[00:01:21]>> Thank you, Cafe. Always my pleasure to be here with you.

[00:01:25]>> And how are you doing today? You know, there's a very sad story that's been circulating online last night about a Nollywood actor who just passed on at the age of 40. Um, Alex Eubo is a very sad story. I mean, looking at what's happening in the Nollywood, I think they need to really do something because the rate at which actors and actresses are dying is becoming something else. Well, uh, Casi, I'm doing fine and really that is actually a sad story to every one of us as a matter of fact. Though personally I don't really know the young man because I don't patronize inollywood especially with all the merries of political activities and for one that highly political politically exposed or conscious like me you know you don't expect me that every now and then I'll be I will be beam I'll be beaming to the screen and then you know consuming all this script from Nollywood. So I don't know the young man so much better. I just hope that the family you know take solace in the fact that we hope to see him again on the resurrection morning.

[00:02:26]>> All right. Thank you so much Vincent.

[00:02:28]Talking about politics, you know, you don't really sometimes you need to unwind. Yes. So it does not always have to be seriousness seriousness but sometimes you have to you know unwind.

[00:02:39]Well, >> that not withstanding >> there's a new development in Abia state where the governor of Abia state is distributing newly modernized um shops to some of the traders. You know he made mention of rights to first refusal policy. You know in Nigeria first come first staff doesn't always go that route. First come will be the last to be served while last come will always be the first to be served. But in this scenario, the governor said whoever comes first is the original owner of the shop. So how will the state government ensure the ver verification process to remain transparent and free from the middle man influence. You know Nigeria we are very much used to middleman. I have long leg. I know this person. I know this person. And in that picture or in that scenario, whoever comes first may not even have the actual um opportunity >> opportunity while the person that oh I have long like my uncle is there or my father is there or my relative is there will be the one to get this um opportunity. So how do we deal with this middleman influence when it has to do with transparency?

[00:03:56]>> Okay, first and foremost we are talking about a rebirth in Nia state.

[00:04:00][clears throat] >> Yes. by the incoming of governor >> who has actually redefined governance in that state. Abby state used to be known as one of the most backward state in Nigeria when it comes to you know elected officials delivering dividends of democracy but aloi has come to make the world understand that can actually work and he has not just he hasn't just pride himself with with statements but he he has actually it actions yes so now we are talking about the modernization of the market space around Aba and around in Abia state especially in Aba >> now shelves have been built market structures have been put in place and it's making us to understand that what used to be or what is what is characterized by our public space where if you don't know somebody you cannot be somebody you know cannot be associated with his government especially in this case it cannot be associated with allotting the shops to owners >> so and so if I if I am an Aian or I'm I'm one of those that is prospecting to have a shop in Abia aba I think I can take his statement to the bank his statement can be li upon you know when you look at the artic of the of this man this man has h has all so far kept his promise he has kept his oath of office you know for for his people if you go to Aba today if you go to Abia state today you will not know that state anymore >> compared to what it was before he came into office or the early days of him coming into office. You don't know the state anymore. A lot of it happening h we have constant power supply around Aba metropolis as it speak you know through public private partnership and so far so good what the young man has done is simply what people of Abia state have been for over the years. So given his article, his track record so far as the governor of Abia said, I have no I have no doubt that he's going to keep to his west and I believe that he is not going to disappoint.

[00:06:12]>> All right. Thank you so much. With this um his um cornerstone of a new Abia reforms that he currently undergoing how much of this will determine his 2027 re-election? Of course. Uh you know I used to tell all these our public office holders our governors just mentioned them that I don't really know why you know you should be scared if you have done the right thing. M >> we saw it in a lot of states. For example, in Edo state, the incoming of of Adam, Adam for example into the political system or leadership system of a state was as a result of his articled led creditably in the Nigerian labor congress. So even after he wasn't even declared winner of the election, the people came out and stood by him and saw him through the legal tles that period that led to selling in if you go to a state like Io state as another example.

[00:07:12]It is the same thing in the administration of of Roach Sorocha. Now Roach Sorocha was well known as a philanthropist, you know, doing a lot of things for the downtrodden and that was how the people of him must put their way behind him.

[00:07:27]Then the same thing applies to Allesoti.

[00:07:30]Now Allesot over we know him as a as a technocrat because he he he had a lot of a lot of track record when it comes to the economic space and the financial and the financial finance sector. So now coming into governance of Abja state he has been doing a lot and what we are talking about right now as far reforming the market system of Abia state and Aba in particular has been something that is is commendable. If you go to social media and you go you go to Abba today you see people all over the street actually singing the praises of this man. So if we are talking about re-election all he need to do is to remain focused. Let it let his relection be about his people. Now for example again I always make reference to the governor of Delta state as a as a case in quote. Now coming in he was doing a lot you know we saw the flyovers we saw rural roads we saw empowerment we saw education being reform in education and the health sector and what have you know now the government of that state is not he's not even known for borrowing the way other state government have been doing but at the end of day I saw him moving from the party that brought him to power to the ruling party at the center I was like what is this man really doing you scared of re-election all you need to do is to focus and keep on delivering on the mandate that your people gave to you. And for Allesoti, that is simply what the young man is doing. And I don't see the reason why she was scared. And of course, you can see he is the he is virtually the only elected personality in the Labor party today.

[00:09:06]The rest of them including h the presidential aspirant have all left the party. He is remaining. And see to me that's a sign that you even have confidence that it's not by knowing God fathers. It's not by it's not by favoritism. It's not by being hooked to the center before election but a bad people. And I believe and hope that the people of Aba state will not allow themselves to be cowed into into going back to the Egypt that Alysot has brought them out from.

[00:09:35]>> All right. Thank you so much Vincent.

[00:09:36]You know talking about a particular governor defecting from his party that elected him to the ruling party. I think virtually all the governors in in Nigeria has actually defected to the ruling party where their sins will be forgiven. And it may just not be because they are scared of um they're not really doing so much. It could be because they like this um this the phrase where your sins will be forgiven. Perhaps I I didn't say I just say perhaps they might have you know done some activities that you know there's no doubt about that anti agencies coming after them when they leave office. So maybe that's why they are now in the ruling party where their sins will be forgiven. And then you made mention of Peter Obi leaving um the Labor party to another party. The reason why he left is not because he was not confident in himself. If there was no crisis in the party, he would have remained in the Labour party to um aspire again as a presidential candidate. But because of the crisis, he had to leave. And if it if PBI had remained in Labor party, I don't think the crisis in that party would have ended if he was still there. Then very quickly still in the same um Abia state, you mentioned that um Alexoti is doing a lot in Abia state now remodeling this Abia state market. Are they ready to reclaim back their title of um Japan of Africa or markets like onichain market and then the Lagos market will you know make them not to actually reclaim that name because we know that on main market is a big market and then Lagos 2 also has a big market. So do you think see the possibility of Abia reclaiming that name of Japan of Africa? Yeah. Now the reason why state and in particular is referred to as Japan of Africa I don't really think it's is just because of the market alone.

[00:11:28]>> Now Abba Abba is one of the one of the main manufacturing hub when it comes to industrial estate in Nigeria >> especially the southeast. Now if you go to Abba you see a lot of things going on there. It's not just about market in structure. You know Abians are known to be very very innovative. They are known to be very inventive and then and then they they are known for their for to be very very industrial. That is what makes Aba you know Japan of Africa though in addition to the fact that and as a market is one of the largest in Nigeria. So now Alysot coming to remodel the market can only be a plus. So meaning that instead of the likes of market or international market in Lagos to to draft what we know about especially this area market it they will it it will even increase their level of competition with the likes of Onicha main market and what we have in Alaba. Then the other thing is that beyond just building the structure, I think there are some other things that need to be done. For example, uh we should be seeing a situation where uh sources of raw material should be should be closer you know to aba because that is one because as a manufacturing up manufacturing is about conversion of raw material to finished product. So if raw materials are not forthcoming it can actually hamper the progress of of ABBA as the Japan of Africa that we have come to call it. Then you are talking about Obi because you make mention of Obi is leaving Labor party is as a result of crisis that is not due to his own capacity to you know of course we know that now Obi pride himself as somebody who is who who have ideas that can really transform this country. Uh and then he has always by by his character you know that he does not like to find himself in a space where there are crisis misunderstanding and bickering.

[00:13:37]Now but to me there's a there is a glyona there because as a leader you are you are expected is not you know you you expected to be multi-dimensional multifaceted as far your action and your leadership style is concerned. Now there's something that that I personally think that OB really need to look at. If you come into a space as a leader that you are, you should be able to exert your influence on those people that are around you in that particular space. Now he came into labor party the last of Abura and Apapa they there are more or less unknown element when it comes to our political and leadership space. Why is it that was not able to prevail on these people for them to behave rightly?

[00:14:18]Now we can talk about external influence. There's this thing that they used to say that if if they give you the money chop and still do the right thing so that if it is a stand if a papa and ab have been paid to to cause crisis in labor party then Obi should be able to OB and other leadership and other leaders in that party should be able to prevail on these people to do the right thing whether they have been sponsored by standard forces or not. So that's another thing. So to me uh Obi should also work on the part of being able to exert his influence such that where crisis are erupting you know he should be able to dension instead of leaving the house in commotion.

[00:14:57]>> All right thank you so much Vincent.

[00:14:59]Away from that to another major development now the spotlight is on Quanko former Cano state governor which has a defected the NDC. Now he made he talked about in a TV um interview he talked about his fallout with the late president Muhammadu Buhari. He said in 2015 he um gave the president 2 million vote from his um constituency that's from his state. Yeah. Canu state. So why is he bringing up that? And then he said when he gave the president this um 2 million vote, he wasn't recognized and his followers too were not recognized.

[00:15:38]So why is he bringing this up after 11 years? Because this something that happened in 2015. He would have talked about it maybe 5 years ago or 6 years thereabouts. So why is he bringing it up after um 11 years after? And he said he was not recognized. But during Bu's regime, he served as a senator and then his deputy become governor. Isn't that recognition or his recognition is it about a ministerial position? Is that what he wanted to be recognized in a ministerial seat?

[00:16:14]>> Okay. Uh first and foremost uh Kungquas is more or less the number one political leader as far the landscape of of Cano is concerned and then is one of the foremost leaders for the entire north is concerned.

[00:16:28]>> Now we recall that Dhari's election uh Canu state from what he make us to understand delivered over 2 million vote for the late president. Now the fact is that like we keep on saying politics is a game of interest. Now did Bhari and those that are working with him try to find out all these politicians that worked for them during the time that they sway what was their interest because sometimes you expect somebody to look you in the eyes and know what you want you know you must sometimes you must not make pronouncement and then more importantly if I if I'm having a dealing with you I should be able to ask you what is your interest as far that particular dealing is concerned then you know saying that know old wounds never die. Of course, when you you you forgive a person, it will be difficult for you to even forget >> because the scars will still be there.

[00:17:23]>> Yes, the scars will still be there as a reminder. Now, uh look at Tinibu for for instance, Cano State was one of in this case now deliver for Tinu and made the massive votes that brought this government at the center. Then we were expecting that you know just like the way we have minister working with president that the same would have been with with but that has not happened. Now it's like this man has suffered this kind of neglect over the years. But another way to it is that it could be that offers were made to him which he was not satisfied with because I I cannot reason that that when it comes to a settlement sharing formula that name is is not in the list. I doubt but maybe there's something that he was looking for that was not given to him.

[00:18:15]It's even possible that he even opened himself up for negotiation but those negotiation or what he he proposed as what he want never saw the light of the day and what was given to him he saw them he may have seen them as belittling now if you look at cano I think ei is the highest when it comes to voting strength across the country especially with a with an with a voter base that is more or less organic organic in the sense Once they have their leaders that tell them do like this and once they ask them to do like this they move you know according to whatever their leaders tell them you know. So such a person will be thinking that okay how will be I will be given the privilege to say what I want and whatever I say will be given to me and in the absence of that that it should be why we are this complaint then to to close this particular argument or this particular narrative he is heading to the NDC before before you actually close that you before you actually close that you know critics are actually calling his movement from the NDC from the NP to the ADC and to the NDC as um a political nomad >> and then him coming out now to cry wolf.

[00:19:31]>> Is he trying to justify his action from defecting to the NDC or what is he trying to do?

[00:19:37]>> Yes, that is exactly where I was heading to Catony. Now uh coming to the NDC of course we have alliances here. We have agreements to will be reached. We have expectations you know if they eventually progress maybe he's trying to in a way sounding to them that look whatever we are we are agreeing to I don't want to be the person that is going to be a problem in the house please whatever we are agreeing to let each and every one of us keep to it I am coming from somewhere the reason why I am here with you is because yesterday I was not treated the way I expected or the way that seems to be right I was not treated right that is why I left where I'm coming from to come here. So I think that is basically a possible you know signals that he's trying to give the NDC and of course Nigerians.

[00:20:28]>> All right thank you so much Vincent.

[00:20:29]Talking about problem in the house when we come back from the short break but we'll be looking at the tension between Mik loyalist and Fubara's loyalist. Stay with us.

[00:21:07]still on the show Citizens Dialogue.

[00:21:09]Before we went on a short break, we were talking about the tension between um Wik and um Fubara. You know the PDP screen and the APC screening that took place the Mik's loyalists were favored more than um Fubara the ones from the Fubara tent that about 65 of the candidates from Fubara's um um >> virtually all of them.

[00:21:37]All of them out and now the APC has come out to say that has no hand >> in whatever happened during the screening section. As an analyst, how do you reconcile this issue?

[00:21:50]>> Number one, do you expect them to attribute whatever happened to Fubar's loyalist in that screening? Do you expect the screening committee to attribute it as an as being out of external influence? Of course, nobody will expect them to say that. But as they say, there's no smoke without fire.

[00:22:08]>> Now in the first place, why why bringing up Wiki as a as a as a as a topic, you know, if he does not have hand in this?

[00:22:20]We are not saying that he have hand in this, but why are you making him a topic? Why are you fingering him, you know, that does not have a hand? So, it's just something they are trying to cover. Of course, I believe that members of the public that are listening to them will be asking themselves the same question. Now, you said that Fubara's loyalist >> loyalist were not favored. Well, I don't want to I don't want to believe that you are trying to talk about favoritism here because we don't know what happened behind the scene. We are yet to see the reasons why some people skate through and why others did not skate through almost 65.

[00:22:55]>> Exactly. That's I'm going to now it it beats one imagination that out of a whole 65 potential candidates of the APC, none of them made it. Of course, that is why it becomes a very serious case in quote, you know. So, we just want to believe that the kind of things that associated with our politics, these people are not taking Nigerians to the cleaners again heading to 2027 election. And if you ask me if the feedback that we are seeing is anything to go by Nigerians need to brace up otherwise what is going to happen 27 is going to be a shocker because we don't want a situation where the issue of god for that reason political affiliation and uh what have you will continue to dictate the destiny of Nigerians. So we just hope that these people will feel the ps of Nigeria and do the right thing for once.

[00:23:49]>> All right. Thank you Vincent. talking about we are not sure if Mik is actually he actually has a hand in this but immediately after the screening he was seen having a closed door meeting with the APC national chairman Hodawa and then with Fubara's recent um defection to the APC and with all of this happening where his loyalists are being denied they are not denied the screening how are we sure that the APC will also give him the governorship um ticket Okay. You mean giving the ticket to Fubara?

[00:24:23]>> Exactly.

[00:24:23]>> Now, first and foremost, you talk about the FCT minister visiting a the National. Well, I think Yes. Freedom of of association in Nigeria. The fact that >> freedom of association. Why does it have to be immediately after the screening?

[00:24:39]It would have happened before the screening or maybe weeks or months after the screening. Our our constitution didn't specify when to ex I'm sorry our constitution did not spec did not specify when to have your freedom of association. So whether it is immediately >> and that's why he becomes guilty >> of course. No no no if you you are within your right to suspect him you know in this case you are within your right because actually they said that witch cry for night and then die for money you know cause to question. Yes.

[00:25:13]So like actually we can talk we can begin to see that okay these people are as just keep on being insensitive you know to the plight of the public because a lot of political activities where people are meant to work independent of external influence is going on and then you are going to visit the head of the body that is trying to you know see how candidate can can emerge in their in in in their political party. So actually it calls to question but what is fundamental remains that wiki and the APC national chairman >> have their fundamental human right of of freedom of association. So we should not because one visit the other then we tie it to something happening behind the scene that that can actually affect one political actor or the other. So for Fubara I think he should put his house in order and actually rise up to be counted because like according to his godfather now power is not take is not given rather it is taken. So Fubara should stand to be counted and where possible he should fight for his rights.

[00:26:26]>> All right >> as far is seeking re-election is concerned.

[00:26:28]>> Thank you so much Vincent. Power is not given rather it is taken. So we've come to the end of the show citizens dialogue. Many thanks Vincent for joining us. It's a pleasure.

[00:26:38]>> Thank you very much. I believe that our viewers have been able to get one or two as far our presentation this morning is concerned.

[00:26:45]>> Definitely. And to you our amazing viewers for tuning in. I am Casoni reminding you to stay informed and stay ahead and do well to join us next time for more breaking news. And don't forget to put your comments in the comment section. I am Casoni and have a lovely day.

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