Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has accused former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili of prompting Governor Siminalayi Fubara to defy President Bola Tinubu. Wike attributed the breakdown of a peace agreement between his faction and Fubara to Odili’s influence. He made these remarks during an event for Rivers State stakeholders on Friday.
The conflict over political dominance in the state has been ongoing between Wike and Fubara, once allies but now adversaries. In 2023, they had signed a peace agreement, facilitated by Tinubu and other key figures, including Odili, at a vital meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. However, Fubara later claimed he had been misled into signing the pact.
Odili, who served two terms as Governor, accused Wike of acting out of self-interest. At an event in Port Harcourt on December 28, he praised Fubara for resisting Wike’s attempts to dominate the state, claiming Fubara has worked to improve governance and happiness among civil servants and citizens since Odili left office in 2007.
In response on Friday, Wike asserted that he is the most successful governor Rivers State has ever had and questioned how he could be seen as turning the state into a personal property. He addressed the attendees, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, and reiterated that he would not retract his statements about Odili.
Wike criticized Odili for his comments about the state being treated as a private estate, stating that if anyone were guilty of that, it is Odili himself. He alleged that Odili had encouraged Fubara to ignore the agreements made with the President, rather than seeking further dialogue for resolution.
Furthermore, Wike revealed that he actively opposed the People’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and former party chairman Uche Secondus, asserting his commitment to supporting a Southern presidential candidate. He emphasized his unbroken record of electoral success and reaffirmed his ongoing support for President Tinubu, suggesting that the country would see improvements as a result of tough decisions being made.
Meanwhile, former Senator Magnus Abe criticized politicians backing Fubara, suggesting their support aimed to undermine Wike. He confessed that he, along with others, had engaged in anti-party activity during the last election, notably refusing to support the PDP presidential candidate.
