Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has accused former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, of being a political sycophant and rent seeker, alleging that Odili has reduced himself to a trader chasing personal gains.
Wike claimed that Odili was politically irrelevant until he (Wike) resurrected his political career.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving Service organized by the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Anglican Communion in Port Harcourt, Wike dismissed Odili’s recent criticisms as baseless and hypocritical.
Wike was responding to comments made by Dr. Odili during a Christmas Carol organized in honor of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Odili had praised Fubara for allegedly halting Wike’s attempt to turn the state into a “private estate” and described Fubara’s leadership as a triumph for Rivers people.
Wike, however, refuted the claims and accused Odili of abandoning his role as an elder statesman for self-serving political interests. “Between him and me, who has turned Rivers State into a private estate?” Wike questioned, listing allegations of nepotism against Odili, including appointing family members to key positions during his tenure.
Wike’s Allegations
Wike detailed various ways he allegedly supported Odili politically and personally, including the funding of PAMO University through government scholarships. He claimed Rivers State sponsored 100 students annually, with each student’s fees amounting to over N5 million per semester.
“In 2007, after he left office, he couldn’t come near power in the state. But when I became governor in 2015, I brought him back to political relevance. I even had Julius Berger build a mansion for him. He praised me to everyone, showcasing the house as an example of my goodwill,” Wike said.
Wike criticized Odili for what he described as inconsistent behavior, recounting how Odili once lauded his achievements as governor but now disparages him to gain favor with the current administration.
“When I was governor, my pictures were everywhere in his house, even in the toilets. Now, all those pictures have been removed,” Wike remarked.
Criticism of Odili’s Leadership
Wike dismissed Odili’s governance record, arguing that the former governor accomplished little during his eight years in office. “What can he show for his time as governor? Now, he’s saying that Fubara, who hasn’t spent one year, has surpassed all previous governors. Is that what an elder statesman should be known for?”
Wike also accused Odili of meddling in state affairs, claiming the former governor had previously opposed Fubara’s candidacy but now organizes events to celebrate him. “When I was plotting who would be governor after me, was he there? He complained about this governor then, and now he’s his biggest supporter,” Wike said.
Wike concluded by advising Odili to embrace dignity and abandon sycophancy, warning that such behavior would not elevate him politically. “We are managing here in Abuja and focusing on our job. Sycophancy won’t take him to the level I’ve reached,” Wike said.
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