The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, of sycophancy and nepotism, asserting that Odili has traded elder statesmanship for political favoritism.

Speaking during a Thanksgiving Service organized by Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Wike described Odili as politically “dead” before he intervened to revive his relevance. He criticized Odili for his recent public praise of the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of hypocrisy.

Wike dismissed Odili’s claims that Fubara prevented Rivers State from being turned into a “personal estate,” pointing to Odili’s own family dominance in state positions. He highlighted that Odili’s wife chairs a governing council, one daughter is a commissioner, and another is a judge. “Between him and myself, who has turned Rivers State into a personal estate?” Wike queried.

He also mocked Odili, recounting how the former governor once hung Wike’s portraits throughout his house, including in the kitchen and bathrooms, as a sign of unwavering support.

Reflecting on his tenure, Wike recalled allocating N500 million annually to support PAMO University, a private institution linked to Odili, for the sponsorship of 100 students. He accused Odili of being ungrateful, citing recent remarks made during a Christmas ballad where Odili praised Governor Fubara for allegedly surpassing Wike’s achievements in less than a year.

Wike dismissed these statements as contradictory, accusing Odili of attempting to undermine his legacy while benefitting from his administration’s financial support.

“All these sycophancies won’t take him to the level I have attained,” Wike declared, urging Odili to refrain from political meddling and to maintain the dignity expected of an elder statesman.

Wike concluded by emphasizing his contributions to Rivers State’s development and calling for honest reflection from political stakeholders.