Former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, acknowledges that he no longer shares a harmonious relationship with one of his predecessors, Peter Odili, citing “some political differences” as the reason.
During a discussion with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike, currently serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disclosed this information.
He previously served as the governor of the oil-rich South-South state from May 2015 to May 2023 before being appointed as minister by President Bola Tinubu.
In various public events prior to this revelation, Wike had referred to Odili, who governed Rivers from May 1999 to May 2007, as his political mentor and leader.
When asked if his relationship with Odili has gone frosty, Wike said, “As it is today, politically, we don’t have good relationship. We don’t work together.”
On the rationale for the cold relationship between the two of them, Wike said, “there are some political differences”.
“For me, we have finished with this stage. It does not mean that in the next stage you will be in the same camp. No. He took a decision. I took decision.”
The minister acknowledged Odili as a paternal figure despite their political disparities.
Although the minister did not elucidate on his “political differences,” the strained relationship between Odili and Wike likely stems from the discord between Wike and the incumbent governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who faces potential impeachment by the state House of Assembly.
Wike criticized certain leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “political opportunists” for backing Fubara.
Abiye Sekibo, PDP leader in Rivers State; former PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus; former gubernatorial hopeful, Celestine Omehia; and former lawmaker, Austin Opara, recently pledged support for Fubara and urged the President to rein in Wike.
In response, Wike dismissed Sekibo, Secondus, Omehia, and Opara as obsolete politicians undeserving of the title “elder statesmen.”
The FCT minister asserted that they are all irrelevant and expelled them from the party. Wike maintained that Secondus ceased to be a PDP member following his court-validated suspension.