“I Made You Who You Are Today, You Are A Trader, I Brought You Back to Life Politically” — Wike rubbishes Peter Odili for Siding With Fubara

 The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday, came down hard on ex-Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, describing him as a rent seeker and an ingrate for siding with incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

 

Wike’s outburst followed recent comments credited to Odili, in which the former governor allegedly praised the current Rivers State Governor, for stopping Wike from turning Rivers State into what he described as a “personal estate.” The remarks, which circulated widely across social media and newspapers, provoked a swift and fiery response from the former Rivers governor turned FCT minister.

According to a statement issued by Wike’s media aide, Leke Olayinka, the minister spoke during a Special Thanksgiving Service organized by the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule. The church service was held at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, within the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry, in Port Harcourt.

Standing before a congregation that included political allies and supporters, Wike accused Odili of “rent-seeking” behavior and portrayed him as an elder statesman who had abandoned consistency and dignity in pursuit of relevance.

“Must You Be a Trader All the Time?”

Wike opened his remarks by expressing disbelief at Odili’s comments, stating that he had initially refused to react until he personally confirmed the reports.

“Somebody called me last night to tell me what someone said on social media. I said I would not react until I read it myself,” Wike said. “This morning, I read in the newspapers what our former governor, Sir Dr. Peter Odili, said.”

Visibly angered, Wike questioned Odili’s motives and accused him of constantly seeking political leverage despite having governed Rivers State for eight years.

“Must you be a trader all the time? As governor for eight years, what else are you looking for?” Wike asked rhetorically, drawing murmurs from the audience.

Allegations of Turning Rivers Into a “Family Estate”

Responding directly to Odili’s claim that Fubara prevented Wike from converting Rivers State into a personal estate, the FCT minister turned the accusation back on the former governor, alleging that Odili had, in fact, entrenched his family deeply within the structures of power in the state.

“Between him and myself, who turned Rivers State into a personal estate?” Wike asked. “His wife is a chairman of a governing council, his daughter is a commissioner, another daughter is a judge, and he is the general overseer. Who really turned Rivers State into a private estate?”

In one of the most biting moments of his speech, Wike added sarcastically that if care was not taken, Odili might even “arrange a marriage for the governor,” a remark that drew laughter from the congregation but underscored the bitterness of the feud.

“I Brought Him Back to Life Politically”

Wike went further to recount the political isolation Odili allegedly faced after leaving office in 2007, particularly during the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

“After he left office, he couldn’t come near power in this state. He was gone,” Wike said. “When I came in as governor in 2015, I won’t use the word resurrected, but I brought him back to life politically.”

The minister claimed that Odili’s return to political relevance was a direct result of his own leadership and decisions, insisting that without his support, the former governor would have remained sidelined.

From Praise to Condemnation

Wike also accused Odili of inconsistency, recalling how the former governor had once showered him with praise during his tenure as Rivers State governor from 2015 to 2023.

“All of you remember that when I was governor, this same Odili praised me to high heaven,” Wike said. “He said all past governors of Rivers State combined did not do better than me.”

According to Wike, Odili’s sudden shift in narrative—now praising Governor Fubara as having surpassed all previous administrations—was not only contradictory but also embarrassing.

“The governor has not spent one year in office, and you are already saying he has beaten the records of all past governors,” Wike said. “When I was there, you said I surpassed everyone, including yourself. Now you are saying someone else has done better within months. What kind of elder talks like that?”

Questioning Odili’s Record and Legacy

In perhaps the harshest segment of his speech, Wike openly questioned Odili’s achievements during his eight years in office, claiming the former governor had little to show for his time in power.

“What can he even show that he did in eight years?” Wike asked. “Someone who has not spent one year has surpassed your records—what does that say about your legacy?”

Wike also revisited Odili’s aborted presidential ambition, alleging that the former governor lacked the courage to pursue it after former President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly opposed the idea.

“He wanted to run for president, but he didn’t have the balls. Obasanjo said no, and he ran away,” Wike claimed. “Because of him, I never invited Obasanjo to Rivers State to inaugurate projects. I didn’t want him to be humiliated.”

Rift Over Fubara’s Emergence

The FCT minister further revealed that Odili had initially opposed the emergence of Siminalayi Fubara as governor, contradicting his current public support.

“When we were plotting who would be governor after me, was Odili there?” Wike asked. “He was complaining then that this same governor could not stand before the public to talk. Today, he is organizing Christmas carol for him.”

Wike accused Odili of conveniently forgetting past criticisms and switching allegiances to remain relevant in the evolving political landscape of Rivers State.

A Feud With Far-Reaching Implications

The public exchange between Wike and Odili highlights the deepening fractures within Rivers State’s political elite, particularly amid the ongoing rift between Wike and Governor Fubara. Analysts say the clash is not merely personal but symbolic of a broader struggle over control, legacy, and political succession in one of Nigeria’s most politically influential states.

As both camps trade accusations and counter-accusations, the people of Rivers State watch closely, aware that these elite power struggles often shape governance, stability, and development outcomes. Whether the feud will escalate further or give way to reconciliation remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the battle for the soul of Rivers politics is far from over.