In a heated exchange of words, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has lashed out at former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, accusing him of sycophancy and undermining his legacy.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt on Sunday, December 29, 2024, Wike alleged that Odili was politically irrelevant until he revived his influence during his tenure as Rivers State Governor.
Wike’s remarks came in response to Odili’s recent comments praising the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for “liberating” the state from Wike’s alleged attempt to control it as a personal estate.
Wike accused Odili of aligning himself with successive administrations for personal gain. “An elder statesman should not be a trader and a sycophant all the time,” Wike said, adding that Odili once praised him as the best governor Rivers State had ever seen but has now turned against him.
Highlighting Rivers State’s contributions to Odili’s PAMO University, Wike revealed that the state sponsored 100 students per session, each paying ₦5 million in tuition fees. He also said he personally arranged for the construction of a mansion for Odili.
Mocking Odili’s perceived loyalty to Fubara, Wike quipped, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he [Odili] arranged a new wife for the governor.”
Wike criticized Odili for initially opposing Fubara but now praising him after less than a year in office. He emphasized that Odili played no role in Fubara’s emergence, which he claimed was orchestrated by himself.
During a Christmas ballad organized for Governor Fubara, Odili had accused Wike of attempting to control Rivers State, describing Fubara as a courageous leader who “emancipated Rivers people.”
The public exchange underscores a widening rift between two prominent figures in Rivers State politics. While Odili has sought to align with Governor Fubara’s administration, Wike, now focused on his duties in Abuja, appears unwilling to let go of past grievances, further fueling tensions in the state’s political landscape.
