Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, claims that “there are some political differences” between him and Peter Odili, one of his predecessors, that have soured their friendship.
This was disclosed by Wike, who is currently the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, during a Tuesday interview with media in Abuja.
From May 2015 to May 2023, Wike served as the governor of the oil-rich South-South state before President Bola Tinubu appointed him a minister.
Wike had previously referred to Odili, the governor of Rivers from May 1999 to May 2007, as his political father and leader at a number of public events. When asked if his relationship with Odili has become tense, Wike responded, “As it is today, politically, we don’t have good relationship. We don’t work together.”
Wike explained their chilly relationship by stating, “There are some political differences.” “For me, we have finished with this stage. It does not mean that you will be in the same camp in the next stage. No. He took a decision. I took a decision,” Wike added.
The minister stated that even though he did not agree with Odili politically, he still saw Odili as a father figure. The minister did not specify what he meant by “political differences,” but it is possible that Wike and the current governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who are at odds and also facing potential impeachment by the state House of Assembly.
Additionally, Wike criticized several PDP leaders as “political buccaneers” for their declarations of support for Fubara.
Rivers State PDP leader Abiye Sekibo, former PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus, former governor aspirant Celestine Omehia, and former lawmaker Austin Opara had last week announced their support for Fubara and urged President Wike to exercise care.
In response, Wike stated on Tuesday that politicians Sekibo, Secondus, Omehia, and Opara were all past their prime and weren’t deserving of the title of “elder statesmen.”
They are all irrelevant, the FCT minister declared as he ejected them from the gathering. Since the court had upheld Secondus’ suspension, Wike argued that he was no longer a part of the PDP.
