Rivers State’s political landscape has once again been rocked by controversy after Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, lashed out at former Governor Dr. Peter Odili. The sharp remarks have since drawn a public apology from Wike’s kinsmen, who are urging Odili to overlook the recent heated exchanges and mend a seemingly fractured political relationship.
The incident began when Wike, during a recent appearance, accused Odili of personalizing Rivers State as if it were his own private property. In his comments, Wike claimed that it was he who “restored life” to Odili and his family, suggesting that Odili had no grounds to criticize him or his actions. The remarks echoed long-standing tensions between Wike and the former governor, which have only been aggravated by ongoing power struggles in the state.
For his part, Dr. Odili, while never mentioning Wike directly, had earlier remarked that Governor Siminialayi Fubara had successfully prevented “one man” from controlling the state as his private estate. This comment has been interpreted as a veiled jab at Wike, a man who had once been one of Odili’s loyal allies before their fallout.
Critics of Wike quickly seized upon his verbal assault, with the Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership—an organization led by one of Wike’s kinsmen, Barr Chizy Enyi—speaking out strongly in defense of Odili. Enyi expressed disappointment at Wike’s remarks, calling them “unnecessary” and “unprovoked,” given that Odili had refrained from mentioning Wike by name in his earlier comments.
Enyi, who is the President General of the Initiative, reminded the public of Wike’s past declarations in which he repeatedly acknowledged Odili as the man who helped launch his own political career. In a televised interview years ago, Wike had credited Odili and his wife for the role they played in his rise to power, claiming that without their mentorship, he would never have reached the governorship of Rivers State.
“How can Wike now turn around and attack the very person he once called his benefactor?” Enyi questioned. He went on to suggest that Wike was once again showing a tendency for contradictory statements, pointing to past public claims where Wike had declared he would never serve as a federal minister again—only to later assume the office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Enyi further criticized Wike for his ongoing feud with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, suggesting that it was Wike’s personal ambition, more than his service to the people, that was at the root of the rift. “Wike has made it his business to control the resources and structure of the state, undermining others who try to exert their influence,” Enyi stated.
Despite the heated rhetoric, Enyi has appealed to Dr. Odili’s sense of dignity and pleaded with him to show compassion by forgiving the FCT Minister. “Wike’s showmanship, while perhaps suited for a political stage, has done more harm than good, both to him personally and to the state,” Enyi said. “His divisive statements often cause turmoil without yielding tangible benefits. His actions have derailed progress and, despite the political posturing, we know Rivers State needs unity and cooperation to move forward.”
In a more conciliatory tone, Enyi and others close to Wike have urged the former governor not to reduce the image of Nyesom Wike to a “nonentity” but rather to embrace the higher road of forgiveness. According to them, Wike must learn to temper his fiery words with greater foresight, as his tendency to lash out at former allies has left many in the state puzzled.
“Our plea to Odili is simple: despite the attacks from Wike, we recognize the larger picture. We, the kinsmen of Wike, stand with Odili and sincerely apologize for the recent outburst,” Enyi said. “We ask Odili to forgive him, acknowledging that even public figures can fall into the trap of overstatement. Wike’s actions should not erase the fact that many of us still hold Odili in the highest esteem.”
Political observers in Rivers have long speculated that the relationship between Wike and Odili was on shaky ground. Wike had initially benefited from Odili’s mentorship, yet the rise to power often reshaped their alliance into one of competition and rivalry. Wike’s aggressive approach to politics, often marked by bombastic statements, has earned him both loyal followers and staunch critics.
In a deeply polarized political climate, such disputes are far from unusual. But the call for Odili to forgive his former political ally represents a significant moment in the Rivers political saga, marking another chapter in an ongoing tension that has shaped the state’s history.
“Politics is not a game for the faint of heart,” noted analyst Ishola Aluko. “But at the end of the day, it’s the ability to heal wounds, not to perpetuate them, that determines whether a leader is remembered for uniting or dividing their people. Both Wike and Odili have an important role to play in Rivers’ future, but it’s up to them to decide if their legacies will be marred by such divisive outbursts or if they will rise above it.”
