Wike Hits Back At Odili: ‘Amaechi Kept You Away From Power, I Revived You

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has claimed credit for reviving the political career of former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili.

Wike asserted that Odili was politically sidelined and unable to access the corridors of power during the tenure of Rotimi Amaechi as Rivers State Governor. However, Wike said that after he assumed the governorship in 2015, he was able to restore Odili’s political relevance.

Wike made these remarks on Sunday during a special thanksgiving service organized by the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt.

In his speech, Wike responded to accusations by Odili, who had criticized him for turning Rivers State into a private estate. Wike described Odili as ungrateful for supporting the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and also referred to him as a “local man.”

“Must you always be a trader? After eight years as governor, what more do you want?” Wike said. “I didn’t want to comment on this, but someone called me last night about what was said on social media. After reading it this morning, I saw what our former governor, Sir Dr. Peter Odili, had said.”

Wike continued, “In 2007, after leaving office, he couldn’t get near power because Amaechi was the governor. He was gone! But like someone once said, God uses certain people to lift others up. When I became governor in 2015, I won’t say I resurrected him, but I brought him back to life,” Wike added, as noted in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka.