Wike doubles down on Odili attack, says ‘no one I supported has ever lost election’

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has doubled down on his criticism of former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, saying he would never issue an apology for remarks he made against the elder statesman.

Wike made his stance clear during a luncheon held at his Port Harcourt residence on Friday, attended by political associates and stakeholders.

His comments came in response to a demand by the Concerned Elders of Rivers State for an unreserved apology to Odili, following what they described as derogatory remarks against the founder of PAMO University of Medical Sciences.

Referring to allegations that Odili prioritized his daughter over his nephew for a political appointment, Wike reiterated his position.

He said: “They said I should apologise for what? There is no law that says their daughter should not take up appointment, I agree. But I said as an elder statesman, you should not have given what belongs to your nephew to your daughter. Did I say that there is a law that said that your daughter should not be something?

“But you said somebody is converting Rivers State to his personal estate. It is not correct. The man who is converting Rivers state to personal estate is you (Odili) and to crown it up, you are now the general overseer.

“I didn’t say anything wrong, so you cannot kill me for what I didn’t say. They said Tinubu should be careful with somebody like me. Tinubu is not like you (Odili). If you are a good person, Tinubu called Rivers people, as an elder statesman he wanted you to make peace, but you came home, ordinarily what you would have done is to call Mr. President back and tell him how you have tried to implement some of them and ask him if there is any way you can do the rest, rather you disobeying everything.

” When my father is doing something wrong, should I not say ‘Papa, this is not what you said yesterday?’ Is that to make him cry? I ran in an election for Local government in 1999, and since then till now I have never lost an election. Nobody whom I supported has ever lost an election.”

Speaking further, Wike said: “Everything has time, he is praising the court, the same court that they said all kinds of things on national television against. Now when they get judgement, the judiciary is correct. When they don’t get favourable judgement, the judiciary is cash and carry. I believe everything has limits and I want all of us to believe and have confidence. The wheel of justice is very slow but at the end of the day it will come.”

He urged his supporters amid political crisis in the State to, “continue to be patient,” saying, “whether it goes your way or not.”

“We cannot be like them to disparage the judiciary. If the judiciary is down, Nigeria is down. It might not end in your favour; it must not be that it favoured me all the time. There is nothing we can do; we cannot carry arms.

“So just be calm, there is something that will happen in this state that everybody will know. The ongoing movement is not a party movement, it is the movement that you will see. Forget about their claims.”

At the event, Wike also advised Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo to remain loyal to those who supported his rise to power.

“Nobody can be anything without people supporting you,” Wike said, while recounting his own political struggles.

Meanwhile, the Concerned Elders of Rivers State, led by prominent figures including former Governor Celestine Omehia and Prince Uche Secondus, issued a strongly worded statement condemning Wike’s remarks about Odili.

The elders defended Odili’s legacy, noting his compliance with a 2006 directive from then-President Olusegun Obasanjo to step down from the presidential race in the interest of party unity. “This is the measure of a statesman and team player that is alien to Nyesom Wike,” they said.

They also dismissed Wike’s claims that Odili’s family benefited unduly from government resources, defending the appointment of Justice Mary Odili and Dr. Adaeze Oreh based on their qualifications and achievements.

In their statement, the elders urged Wike to respect the traditions of deference to elders and unity in Rivers State. “As a former governor and national statesman, Wike should act as a role model,” they stated, condemning his “continuous disrespect” toward dignitaries, traditional rulers, and clergymen.

The group further alleged that the rift between Wike and Odili began over the former’s refusal to heed Odili’s advice against moves to impeach the incumbent governor, Siminalayi Fubara. They emphasized that Odili’s actions were aimed at ensuring political stability in Rivers State.

While urging dialogue to resolve grievances, the elders maintained that respect for elders must remain sacrosanct in the state’s political discourse.