Hon. Sunny Aguebor, Chairman Bibi Group of Companies, a PDP Chieftain in Edo State and frontline Senatorial hopeful for the Edo South PDP ticket in the 2023 general elections in this interview made the following remarks

*Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State apologized to the former National chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole and described Governor Obaseki as ungrateful. How would you react to that?

Instead of apologizing to Oshiomhole, he should first of all apologize to his former boss Rotimi Amaechi who he betrayed, because of his gubernatorial ambition in 2015. He was one of those who created the friction in the relationship between Amaechi and Mrs. Patience Jonathan. Did Wike become Governor from local politics, was it not Amaechi that picked him up from the Local Government and made him his Chief of Staff? He should also apologize to the Jonathans who made it possible for him to emerge as Governor in 2015, who as of today he hardly relates with, because of his much touted presidential ambition. The records are there, except the man is now suffering from selective amnesia. What does Governor Wike mean by Obaseki is being ungrateful? Did the Governor not pay him and other PDP Governors thank you visit after the Edo 2020 governorship election? So, because he supported the Governor in the Edo 2020 governorship election the entire party structure in Edo PDP should be given to him in aid of his presidential ambition? That is not how we play politics, except we want to continue to deceive ourselves. Edo State cannot be procured by any external force, not even 10 of Wike’s type can procure our state, albeit through the connivance of traitors within. I am glad that Governor Wike by his recent utterances exposed himself as the external factor behind the crisis in Edo PDP. Very unfortunate!

*Former Ekiti Governor, Ayo Fayose predicted that Governor Obaseki will turn against Wike and who gave him the platform to actualize his second term ambition and may not be able to keep his agreement with the PDP he met on ground. Are you not worried that his prediction has come true?*

Former Governor Fayose was not with us in the build-up to the Edo 2020 governorship election and so we are not bothered by whatever prophecy he made then. How come he didn’t foresee the defeat by the APC of his preferred candidate in the Ekiti governorship election 4 years ago? Besides what agreement are they talking about? They should come out clean and stop speaking in parables. Like Fayose who after leaving office went underground, politically, his friend Wike will follow suit after May 29 next year.

*Wike was one of those instrumental to the emergence of Obaseki as a second term Governor. Don’t you think Wike deserves some respect?*

As the popular saying goes, respect is reciprocal. This whole controversy did not start with Governor Wike’s wicked response to the harmless speech of Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, our Deputy Governor. This controversy started when the governor and his supporters were about joining the PDP. Dan Orbih, Wike’s political agent in Edo has been in the business of procuring delegates for him and for any other higher bidder. It was simply a game of cash and carry and not one of winning elections. From his days in the ANPP till date, this fellow called Dan Orbih has never won any election in his ward. Presently Orbih now lives in Port Harcourt as a glorified domestic aide of Governor Wike. When a court order was procured from Port Harcourt to scuttle the Edo 2020 PDP governorship primaries, it was the same Dan Orbih and co that were behind it. As a way of settling him, a serving zonal vice chairman from Delta State was made to resign to make Dan Orbih South South Zonal Vice Chairman. It was the Governor of Delta State that prevailed on him. So not only Governor Wike was instrumental in the Governors political breakthrough in 2020 but PDP Governors and leaders like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

*How do you think the disagreement between the two governors can be resolved?*

Honestly, I think for the disagreement to be a thing of the past the national leadership of the PDP must wade into the crisis in our state chapter, as that is where this whole issue started from. Also Governor Wike should be advised to stop meddling in the affairs of PDP in Edo State. To the extent that he referred to the Governor of Edo State as a tenant in the PDP. That statement is very irresponsible, especially when it is coming from a PDP Governor. Wike has every right to support Dan Orbih and co with Rivers State money, but that should not make him directly interfere with how the party is run in Edo State. The leader of the party in Edo State according to the PDP Constitution is Governor Godwin Obaseki. Edo is not Rivers, or even Cross River. I say Cross River, because it was this same Governor of Rivers that made Governor Ayade of Cross River State to leave the PDP. So for this disagreement to be nipped in the bud, Governor Wike must be urgently called to order by the PDP national leadership.

*Obaseki said Edo would not accept any bullies and overlord. Has Wike displayed any of these traits in this saga?

* Wike has not only acted as a bully, but more visibly he comes across as a typical busy body. He said he wanted to commission a school project, but he turned it into a press conference to insult the Governor and people of Edo State throughout the event. He began with the lie of the century. He said Prof Jerry Gana has never decamped from the PDP since inception of the party just to spite Obaseki and Shaibu. But the truth is in 2018 Professor Jerry Gana decamped from the PDP and joined the SDP in order to contest in the party’s presidential primaries. It was only recently Jerry Gana returned back to the PDP. So Governor Wike lied. So if l now say that lying is in his DNA, he will say he is being insulted. The truth does not have versions only falsehood has versions. But, it is what it is.

*Do you think Gov. Obaseki was right to have called the national party chairman to caution Wike to stop what Obaseki describe as unguarded and disruptive tendencies?*

Yes Obaseki was right to have invited the national chairman of PDP to call Wike to order. If the PDP had a president in Aso Rock that would have been the person to refer him to. But in the absence of a sitting President, the leader of the party at the centre is our national Chairman.

*Obaseki also said Wike should not pursue his Presidential ambition in a disruptive manner. What is your take on this?*

I heard Wike has been trying to get PDP Governors of southern extraction to support his presidential ambition. Edo is one of the States where he has met a brick wall, as our Governor has refused to be a pawn in his ambitious political chess board. The reaction to that is what you are seeing in his attacks on the likes of Raymond Dokpesi a PDP BOT member from Edo State, the Deputy Governor and the Governor of Edo State. Is that not a disruptive behavior? Certainly yes!