Kinsmen of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, have pleaded with the former governor of the Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, to forgive their brother over his recent statement against him (Odili).
This came as Chief Anabs Sarah-Igbe, spokesman of Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, described the Minister as a “drowning man who wants to drag anyone along the mud”.
The Minister of FCT had stated that Odili personalised the state for himself, and that he (Wike) restored life to Odili and family, noting that Odili has no justification to speak against him.
The former governor, Odili, had earlier said without name calling, that Governor Siminialayi Fubara of the state, has successfully prevented one man from converting the state into his private estate.
However, responding to the statement in Port Harcourt, Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership, stated that the attack by Wike on Odili was unnecessary.
President General of the body, Chizy Enyi, who is a kinsman of the Minister of FCT, said it was wrong for Wike to say the many unprintable things against the former Governor Odili, when he (Odili) did no openly call out his name in the earlier speech.
He said: “Our worry is that this is the same Wike, who publicly on a live television said that if not for Dr. Odili and his wife, he would not have been made governor of Rivers State.
He swore that any day, he would say anything that would make the family of Dr. Odili to cry, that God should not allow him to grow. However, we have come to a realisation that his stock in trade is to say one thing and do another. In the same way, he bragged that he could never be a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria again, and today, what is he.
It is an obvious fact that the only Rivers man, living and dead, who has wanted to personalise Rivers State as his personal structure, is Wike. We are all aware of the issues with the governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, and Wike.
“Wike’s showmanship is not good for Rivers development. Wike should always know what to say and how to say it. We hold Odili to a high esteem. Wike cannot reduce the golden governor to nothing.
“The showmanship of Wike, in trying to be noticed always, has done more harm than good to himself. Yet, he does not want to learn.
“On behalf of Rivers people, Wike, inclusive, we apologise to Odili, the former Golden governor of Rivers State and his family, as we plead with him to forgive Wike.”
He is a drowning man —Sarah-Igbe
Also reacting, Sarah-Igbe who served as senior adviser to Odili on Security Matters recalled how Wike had earlier praised Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili (retd) to “high heavens only to turn around and drag the same people in the mud.”
Sarah Igbe argued that while Odili has a name, integrity and pedigree, “Wike lacks all of these qualities and should not be taken seriously because he is a drowning person.
“Wike is known for insulting elders in the Niger Delta region and Rivers State. He insulted Pa Edwin Clarke, he insulted late Alabo Graham Douglas. He has been insulting elders at will and I will not be surprised if he insults President Tinubu tomorrow when they fall apart.”
Sarah-Igbe pointed out that Wike’s anger may stem from the fact that he has lost the 23 local government structure and the House of Assembly to the firm grip of Governor Fubara.
Losing the state structure is what is causing him to manifest this anger. That is why he wants to vent his spleen on anybody that does not support his anti-people actions.”
He, however, called on Dr. Odili to ignore Wike’s insult and continue to play the fatherly role he is playing in Rivers State
(Vanguard)