RIVERS POLITICS: The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike during a birthday event organized for former Governor Peter Odili gave account of his relationship with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) power brokers in the state and how the choice of his successor was made, and the events following it.
He also used the same occasion to speak about how some of those who lost out in the struggle for the PDP governorship ticket in the state has being conspiring to pull him down, alleging that they conspired to obstruct his presidential ambition at Abuja.
Clariform reports that the former Accountant-General of the state, Sim Fubara won the Rivers` PDP governorship ticket to contest the governorship election in the 2023 election.
He emerged victorious in the party governorship primary with Governor`s Wike`s support, who chose him as his anointed successor.
However, speaking during former governor Odili’s birthday celebration, Nyesom Wike claimed that some other governorship aspirants who lost out in the contest are currently now collaborating with his opponents in Abuja to plot his downfall.
Notable Quote
In his address at the event, Governor Wike said, “On my last birthday in 2021, 12 midnight, some of our elders called to see me. They said they came to wish me happy birthday.
“Then, they presented me a letter that I should run for president. All of them, including Dr Abiye (Sekibo) signed the document. I said okay, you people too should go and give me someone who will be governor after me. They all sat there, looking left and right.
“I asked them: Those of you who are interested in being governor should raise your hands. Everybody raised hands. One person didn’t raise his hand — Senator Bari Mpigi. I asked why he was not interested; he replied ‘let me hold what God has given me. I don’t want to lose the two.
“Some persons don’t know the history. They go and tell all kinds of stories. But the truth is this: all of them (elders) signed the document prepared by O.C.J. Okocha that whoever I will bring, they will abide by it.
“But now, they went to Abuja that I must not be vice-president. I also read yesterday when I was in Paris, one of them saying that I told him that if they do to me what they did to Dr Odili that I will collapse the system.
“I am not an ungrateful person and I will never be ungrateful in my life. What’s important is that I have done well as a governor. I am happy and I am leaving office a happy man.”
Relationship Dr Peter Odili
Governor Nyesom Wike also spoke of his relationship with the former governor Peter Odili, stating how he benefited from his mentorship and advice. He spoke of how he has also relied on Dr Odili for guidance in arriving at the choice of a successor.
Speaking further Wike said: “There was a time every political class abandoned Dr. Odili. This is a man who gave us everything. Some people called him Mr Donatus. There was no abuse he did not get.
“Everybody he tried to help their families, at the end of the day, all betrayed him.”
