…Pleads With Wike For Forgiveness
…Unites With Hon. Chindah, Others
…As Mass Exodus Rattles Amaechi’s Camp
A close confidant of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Chidi Lloyd who was Amaechi’s Chief Political Strategist has dumped his former master (Amaechi) and declared support for the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Hon. Lloyd, former leader, Rivers State House of Assembly also apologized to Hon. Michael Chinda, a fellow lawmaker he almost killed in a 2013 House of Assembly fracas.
Lloyd, had in a viral video, in a vicious manner struck fellow House member, Hon. Michael Chinda on the skull with the House Mace, which resulted in severe head injuries.
Hon. Chinda was flown abroad for medical treatment thanks to Governor Nyesom Wike, who then as a Minister for Education ensured that Hon. Chinda did not die and took full care of his treatment abroad.
National Network gathered that in the days ahead mass exodus of those loyal to the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, would hit his camp.
Three-time Assembly member and former Leader of the 7th Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a call on the State Governor, Chief (Barr) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and all members of the party in the State to forgive and forget his misdeeds.
Lloyd, now a PhD holder in Law made the open apology during a reconciliatory visit to Governor Wike at Government House on Monday.
Accompanied on the visit by supporters and kinsmen, Hon. Lloyd said he was particularly sorry for the attack and injury inflicted on his then colleague, Hon. Michael O. Chinda.
“Your Excellency, I would not want to complete this statement without tendering an unreserved apology for the events of July 9, 2013.
“I thank God today that all the dramatis personae that were involved in that shameful conduct are alive today and none was buried”, he said.
The former lawmaker who represented Emohua Constituency added that the unfortunate action was “a mistake from the head and not from the heart”.
He thanked Governor Wike for warm reception and fatherly disposition towards him and all those who accompanied him.
“I doubt if I would have been this benevolent because of the kind of politics we play today. But we thank God for you.
“Your Excellency, my people have asked me to say to you, that we, henceforth join hands with you in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We want to crave your indulgence to find a place in your heart to forgive my past mistakes and readmit all of us into the party”, he said.
Dr. Lloyd also thanked members of the PDP in State for their unity of purpose while declaring that he would only sit down when he and his people get Governor Wike’s approval to return to the umbrella where they all cut their political teeth.
Speaking earlier, the State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said politicians who bear bitterness in their minds against others hardly make progress.
He has therefore, declared that his success in politics and governance is because he carries no grudge against anybody.
Governor Wike was speaking when the people of Akpabu and Itu communities, led by their traditional and political leaders, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike said during his second term inauguration, he asked for forgiveness from those he offended and also promised to forgive those that hurt him.
Today, he said, Dr. Chidi Lloyd has publicly expressed regret of his role in the 2013 crisis at the State House of Assembly and apologised.
Governor Wike stated that he has forgiven Dr. Lloyd because he is a Christian and those who became victims of that act have also consented.
“Forgiveness is key for every christian. God has forgiven me, why can’t I forgive. We have also met with Hon. Michael Chinda and others, we got their approval for reconciliation.
“I love to attract people to our party because I am not a greedy politician. I believe that the more the merrier. I will do what is in the best interest of the people and the party. “Politics of progress does not undermine the importance of friendship. I believe that we must forget yesterday, put ourselves together for a better tomorrow,” he said.
Gov Nyesom Wike has also reconciled major actors in the July 9, 2013 Rivers State House of Assembly crisis.
They have all agreed to work together as members of one big family under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
They include, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, Michael Chindah, Evans Bipi and Kelechi Nworgu.
The reconciliation which was brokered by Governor Wike took place at Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Wike said the event was a confirmation that the key actors in the crisis have formally reconciled.
“They are the people directly involved in the State House of Assembly crisis and this ceremony is to tell the world that they have reconciled.
“They are still members of the same family and they are happy with the reconciliation,” the Governor noted.
In his speech, Dr. Chidi Lloyd said the reconciliation was ordained by God and restated his earlier apology to Hon. Michael Chindah and his other colleagues over his role in the crisis at the State House of Assembly.
He described his action in 2013 as a mistake of the head and not of the heart and thanked the Governor for his benevolence which led to total reconciliation.
Responding, Hon. Michael Chindah thanked God for keeping them alive to witness the reconciliation.
He also lauded Governor Wike for his role in ensuring that he remained alive after the incident.
Hon. Chindah who observed that Dr. Lloyd misunderstood him on the day of the crisis, said he had already forgiven him since December, 2013.
He urged parliamentary leaders not to promote issues that would lead to crisis in their service to humanity.
Also speaking, Hon. Evans Bipi described Dr. Lloyd as a man with a large heart and thanked him for coming back to his roots.
On his part, Hon. Kelechi Nworgu said the reconciliation was his greatest achievement in the present administration.
He stated that he never regretted his action on the day of the incident as he stood for the freedom of the state.
Hon. Nworgu lauded Governor Wike for championing the reconciliation which he noted is for the good of the State.
The State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ambassador Desmond Akawor described the reconciliation as a practical manifestation of forgiveness.
He lauded Governor Wike for always treading the path of a righteous ruler and thanked the various parties to the reconciliation for taking the bold step to forgive one another.
Also speaking, Chief Sergent Awuse commended Governor Wike for creating the enabling environment to end the crisis which would have consumed the entire State.
The Governor also assured that he would complete the Akpabu-Itu Road and the electrification of the communities.
“When we go to Akpabu during electioneering campaigns, you cannot move from there to Omudioga community even though they are in the same ward due to bad road network. I have promised to reconstruct the road and restore electricity.
“We will complete those projects within the life span of this tenure. Politics is about dividends of democracy,” he stated.
Governor Wike also upgraded the traditional stool of the traditional ruler of Akpabu, Eze Godwin Chukwuemeka Ordu from third class to second class.
Former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Dr. Chidi Lloyd expressed regret of his role in the crisis at the State House of Assembly on the 9th of July 2013 and apologised to the people of the State and Hon. Michael Chinda.
Dr. Lloyd said he has learnt how to be benevolent in politics among other things from Governor Wike.
He declared that henceforth, he and members of his community would work for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
Rivers State Chairman of PDP, Ambassador Desmond Akawor who received Dr. Chidi Lloyd into the Party noted that he is an asset.
He thanked Governor Wike for being an excellent statesman who has made it easy for the party to retain its foothold in Akpabu and Itu communities.
The paramount ruler of Akpabu and Itu communities, Eze Godwin Chukwuemeka Ordu thanked Governor Wike for the projects and pledged that with their son, Dr. Lloyd, they would ensure the success of PDP in the communities.
Elder Paul Wonodi noted with pleasure the benevolence, and forgiving nature of the Governor which has been demonstrated in reconciling with Dr. Chidi Lloyd.
He said the Party would benefit from the versatility of Dr. Lloyd and assured that they would work to secure more success for the party.
Chief Sergeant Awuse noted that Governor Wike is making unimpeded progress in politics because he mends fences easily.
According to him, because the Governor is a man who loves peace, he has continued to achieve greater heights.
Recall that Hon. Chidi Lloyd was the Director-General of the 2019 Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Cole’s Campaign Organization that was not to be, and former majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Hon Chidi Lloyd, a teacher, and lawyer was the ‘Dramatis persona’ in the high profile attempted murder case that was a subject of interest in the wake of political crisis in Rivers State in 2013, exactly seven years ago.
He was variously vilified for his action and prosecuted for launching a ferocious attack on his lawmaker colleague, Hon Michael Chindah which sent him (Chindah) to a London Hospital for treatment because of the depth of injuries sustained.
