Kinsmen of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have issued an appeal to former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, urging him to forgive Wike for his recent comments against him. The call follows remarks by Wike, in which he claimed to have “restored life” to Odili and his family, while questioning Odili’s authority to speak against him.
Wike’s comments were in response to Odili’s previous criticism of Wike’s actions, especially regarding the governance of Rivers State. In particular, Odili had mentioned how Governor Siminialayi Fubara had successfully prevented one individual from trying to monopolize the state’s resources. Wike’s kinsmen, led by Chizy Enyi, President General of the Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership, expressed disappointment in Wike’s statements, especially given his previous praise for Odili, whom he had once credited with helping him rise to political prominence.
Enyi highlighted that Wike had once publicly acknowledged Odili and his wife as key figures in his political success. The kinsmen are concerned about the apparent contradiction in Wike’s remarks, stressing that he had previously vowed never to cause distress to the Odili family. Enyi also criticized Wike for his “showmanship” and his actions that, in their view, are harming the development of Rivers State.
The group appealed to Odili to forgive Wike, urging the former governor to rise above the controversy and continue focusing on the state’s progress. The kinsmen emphasized the need for respectful dialogue and leadership, particularly for the sake of Rivers’ development.