‘You’re reducing yourself to laughing stock’ — Wike replies Odili over ‘private estate’ comment

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says Peter Odili, a former governor of Rivers state, should leave him alone.

Wike said this in response to comments by Odili who said Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, prevented Wike from turning Rivers into his private estate.

He spoke at a thanksgiving service organised by Martin Chike Amaewhule, factional speaker of the Rivers state house of assembly.

The elder statesman had said Fubara emancipated Rivers people, “steadied governance and made civil servants and Rivers people happier as it used to be until he left office in 2007”.

But in a statement on Sunday, Lere Olayinka, media aide to Wike, quoted his principal as saying that Odili is reducing himself to a laughing stock because he told the “whole world then how God used me to bring him back to life politically”.

“Between him and myself, who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? His wife is a Chairman of the Governing Council, his daughter is a commissioner, his other daughter is a judge and he is the general overseer,” the minister said.

“Who has now turned Rivers State to his private estate? I am sure if care is not taken, if there is a chance, he can even arrange a marriage for the governor.

“It was his nephew, his late senior brother’s son that was recommended for commissioner. He took the slot and gave it to his own daughter. Someone who didn’t remember to stand for the son of his late elder brother, is that an elder statesman?

“But why reduce yourself to such a laughing stock.”

The minister said Odili “withdrew” from the 2007 presidential race because he lacked the courage and capacity to challenge former President Olusegun Obasanjo.