Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has said he has a rift with his erstwhile boss and former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili.
Wike made this stance known in a media chat in Abuja, today, Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
Peter Odili was Governor of Rivers State from 1999 – 2007 while Wike was the Obio-Akpor Local Government Chairman in the same period.
Wike subsequently rose politically to become the Governor of Rivers State, from 2015 to 2023.
During the interview, Wike was asked about his relationship with Odili and he said:
“As it is today, politically, we don’t have good relationship. We don’t work together.”
“For me, we have finished with this stage. It does not mean that in the next stage you will be in the same camp. No. He took a decision. I took decision.“
Wike had been very close to Peter Odili and his Wife, Justice Mary Odili, who recently retired from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The new tune from Wike is not unconnected with the decision of the Odili’s to side with current Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara in his rift with Wike.
Wike was instrumental in the election of Sim Fubara but has fallen out with the Governor over unspecified differences. The rift has brought political uncertainty to the State, with 27 Lawmakers of the State House of Assembly threatening to impeach the Governor, over alleged constitutional breaches.
The lawmakers are aligned with Wike an.
The rift has also seen the 27 Wike aligned lawmakers’ cross carpet from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This move allowed Wike to get a foothold in both parties in the State while still proclaiming his membership of the PDP.
