By Gideon Njoku
A number of people, especially those who know how strong the relationship between the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, now, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili and his wife, The Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili, JSC, rtd, are genuinely shocked to hear and/or read that it has gone sour.
It has, according to stories emanating from Port Harcourt, gone so bad they allege that Wike now insults the Odilis publicly.
Those shocked by the allegation are in order. For, Wike, for years, especially, from the couple of years which led to his election as the Governor of Rivers State, let everybody know that the Odilis made him what he is today. He told the story of his life and his relationship with the former Rivers State first couple. He cursed any of them, (Odili boys, Odili political family) who would have the guts to disrespect the Odilis. In appreciation, of the many roles the Odilis played in his life, which he publicly acknowledged, Wike also honoured the them. He was there for them as they were there for him.
But according to emerging reports from Rivers State, Wike has started to talk down on the Odilis.
The rumours were strong that it was over the sour relationship between Wike and his estranged political godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
This magazine gathered that playing his role as a Statesman and father to all, and in pursuit of peace in the State, Dr Odili tried to intervene in the crisis. His intervention came in the form of looking for peace and standing by the truth. Odili was reported to have advised Wike to calm down, take things easy and give the Governor a breathing space. But it was an advice Wike was not prepared to take. He turned a deaf ear to Odili’s advice, and, according to sources, Odili decided not to intervene anymore. But, he made sure he stood by the truth, by fairness and justice. So, each time Fubara invited the Odilis to a function, they kept faith with him. “It is something that annoyed Wike to the bones, especially, when Odili’s daughter, Dr Adaeze Oreh, who is the State’s Commissioner for Health, did not resign when some State Commissioners, loyal to Wike resigned in the heat of his disagreement with Governor Fubara.
On March 26, 2024, any doubt that Wike’s relationship with the Odilis has gone awry, for now, was wiped away by a group of Rivers State PDP Stakeholders.
At a Press Conference addressed by them, they expressed shock that Wike has started to insult the Odilis because they refused to support him in his humiliation of Governor Fubara.
Those at the Press Conference included a former Minister for Transportation, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Rt. Honourable Austin Opara, Senator Lee Maeba and former Governor Celestine Omehia among others.
While berating Wike over his activities in the State which they find disruptive, they pointed out Wike’s resort to insulting the Odilis.
In the statement signed by Sekibo and Maeba, they said of Wike as regards the Odilis: “Lately, he has resorted to insulting our revered leader, and former Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Peter Odili, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and his wife, Her Excellency Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili CFR, JSC, DSSRS because they refused to support him in his failed attempt to impeach the duly elected Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Grand Service Star of Rivers State (GSSRS)”
For the records, this is not the first time Wike would have something against the Odilis. The first time it happened, he apologised to the Odilis who, in turn, forgave and welcomed him like a long lost son.
