The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, accusing him of trading in sycophancy and undermining his role as an elder statesman. Wike made the remarks during a Special Thanksgiving Service held at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in Port Harcourt on Sunday, organized by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.
The statement by Wike came in response to comments made by Odili at a Christmas Carol event in honor of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family. At the event, Odili praised Governor Fubara for allegedly halting Wike’s supposed attempts to turn Rivers State into a personal estate. Odili’s remarks included claims that Fubara “steadied governance” and restored happiness to civil servants and the Rivers populace, achievements Odili suggested had not been seen since his tenure ended in 2007.
Wike, visibly displeased, criticized Odili’s comments as ungrateful and politically motivated. He accused the former governor of hypocrisy, noting that Odili had previously praised him for surpassing the achievements of all past governors, including himself.
“Between him and me, who has turned Rivers State into a private estate?” Wike questioned. “His wife is the Chair of a Governing Council, his daughter is a commissioner, another daughter is a judge, and he is the overseer of it all. If given the chance, he might even arrange a marriage for the governor.”
Wike further highlighted his contributions to Odili’s legacy, particularly the establishment of PAMO University, which Rivers State supported by sponsoring students at a cost of ₦5 million per semester. Wike also claimed to have personally facilitated the construction of a mansion for Odili, which Odili had previously touted as a testament to Wike’s goodwill.
The FCT Minister expressed disappointment that Odili, whom he once supported, had chosen to criticize him for political gain. “When I was governor, his house was filled with my pictures—from the sitting room to the kitchen and even the toilet. Now, those pictures are gone,” Wike remarked.
Wike accused Odili of inconsistency and questioned the wisdom of his recent comments. “What kind of elder statesman talks like this? Today, he praises; tomorrow, he condemns. Even his children must wonder about his credibility.”
Wike also defended his legacy in Rivers State, asserting that Odili’s claims about Fubara were premature and exaggerated. “A governor who hasn’t spent one year in office is now being credited with surpassing the records of all past governors? What manner of elder statesman would say that?”
In concluding his remarks, Wike dismissed Odili’s allegations as baseless and emphasized his focus on his responsibilities in Abuja. “Let them manage the assembly money; they are not starving. I’m okay here in Abuja, and sycophancy won’t elevate him to where I’ve reached.”
This exchange between the two prominent Rivers politicians underscores the lingering tensions within the state’s political landscape and raises questions about the motivations behind recent political alignments.