The political tension in Rivers State reached new heights as the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, publicly blasted former governor Dr. Peter Odili, accusing him of being politically “dead” until Wike revived his career.
Wike’s sharp words came in response to remarks made by Odili during a Christmas ballad in honor of the current governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Odili had criticized Wike, claiming that the governor demonstrated exceptional fortitude in halting Wike’s supposed attempt to turn Rivers State into his private estate.
However, Wike didn’t hold back in his response, addressing the accusations head-on at a Special Thanksgiving Service in Port Harcourt. Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike reminded the audience of his past contributions to Odili’s political survival.
He dismissed Odili’s comments as politically motivated, questioning the former governor’s integrity and calling him out for his alleged sycophantic behavior. Wike asserted that it was his own efforts that brought Odili back into the political limelight after his influence had waned, particularly during the tenure of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
It was me who resurrected you politically, Wike declared, challenging Odili’s claims of saving Rivers State from personal control. He went on to point out the hypocrisy of Odili, emphasizing that while Odili accused others of using the state for personal gain, his own family was deeply entrenched in state affairs, including his wife’s role as Chairman of the Governing Council, his daughter’s position as a commissioner, and another as a judge.
Wike’s anger was palpable as he questioned Odili’s motives, saying, What else are you looking for after serving as governor for eight years? Must you always be a trader? He also pointed out how Odili, once a vocal supporter of his administration, now seemed to have forgotten the past praises he lavished on Wike’s leadership.
The simmering animosity between Wike and Odili continues to brew, with Wike accusing the former governor of abandoning his principles in favor of political sycophancy. As the political landscape in Rivers State grows increasingly polarized, all eyes are on how these tensions will shape the future of the state and its leadership.