*FCT Minister mistook hashtag#TheBar for an invitation to get hopelessly drunk
The fiery war of words between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a frontline Nigerian human rights lawyer, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, which erupted last Friday, is showing no sign of abating.
The verbal war was started by Wike, who is also former Governor of Rivers State, when he accused Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), of ineptitude and called to question his professorship.
Odinkalu is a Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, United States (U.S.) and a globally acclaimed human rights lawyer, scholar and activist.
But speaking on Friday at the unveiling of the N10 billion FCT Renewed Hope programme, where 80 vehicles were injected into the FCT transport system, Wike, in an obvious swipe at Odinkalu, said the human rights lawyer did not have an exemplary record when he served as the NHRC Chairman and questioned his professorship.
He said: “Someone showed me a write-up they said was written by a professor. I asked him the professor of which university? Nobody knows.
“They were given opportunity in the Human Rights Commission. Ask them what was their performance. What was the record when the government allowed him to be there? Zero!”
In a swift response, Odinkalu, who took to his official X handle, countered Wike, calling him a “greedy glutton” who should not be giving lectures on ethical conduct.
He tweeted: “In Abuja, @GovWike is flexing. He is a #LifeBencher inebriated on substance which may or may not be just power. He can buy whomever he wants with public money to do whatever he desires. But even that has a shelf-life. This idiocy will end one day too.
“One more thing, unlike @GovWike, I have a life outside messing about with the #PublicPurse. I left @NhrcNigeria 9 years ago & I have no interest or desire to maintain “structure” there. A greedy glutton has no business giving lectures on the virtues of being teetotal!”
Not yet done, Odinkalu took to his linkedin page early Sunday morning to further question Wike’s credibility as a public servant.
hashtag#NyesomWike became a member of the Nigerian Bar Association HQ in 1991 & promptly mistook hashtag#TheBar for an invitation to get hopelessly drunk.
In the same decade, he embarked on a political career beginning with local government.
In the 25 yrs since he first held public office as the Chair of Obio/Akpor LGA in Rivers State in 1999, Mr. Wike has held various other positions in succession as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Rivers State; Minister of State for Education; & 2-term governor of Rivers State.
In Aug. 2023, he became Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Over this quarter century, Mr. Wike evolved into the quintessential hashtag#GovernmentIndigene
He has emerged as the hashtag#GreedyGlutton of the Nigerian political space, bingeing on every beverage the country can offer: power, public money, the judiciary, treachery, violence, vintage alcohol & lots more.
Inebriated as he is with substances financed by the hashtag#PublicPurse, Mr. Wike now thinks he must be hashtag#WorshippedAndGlorified. But hashtag#Nigeria is not his grove & we did not escort him to the country.
His gluttonous lips have done enough damage being perennially clasped around hashtag#Nigeria‘s sovereign hashtag#FeedingBottle.
Meanwhile, some concerned Nigerians have weighed in on the fight, all of them in support of Odinkalu.
Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who was Commissioner for Information in Rivers State when Nyesom Wike was Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, wrote: “It is pathetic that one man wants to play God so bad. I agree 💯. hashtag#Nigeria is indeed not his Grove and no way are we his escorts to our own country and our own state. hashtag#RiversLiberation .”
Dr Chidumeje Chukwuebuka Okafor, a medical Doctor, public affairs analyst and a humanitarian, wrote, “Thanks prof, your golden, fearless, unapologetic, voice (write up) has done justice once again… justice that Nigerian absolutely abysmally corrupt judiciary has lost the ability to access.
“If not so, how can a judge rule that a local government shouldn’t receive its allocation ‘because Wike decided so’, knowing fully well that Wike’s boss experienced such in the past and would in no way encourage any other state to taste such bitter juice (…hehehe Wike’s jagaban won’t encourage so? Am I 😃 😃 😅, well who knows)
“Wike should be informed that, The era of emperor is gone, even Obj with all his powers could not bend Orji uzor kalu, Atiku and so many.
“Buhari and his inhumane secret police and Human rights abusive military couldn’t still bend Wike and Fayose.
“So, how did Wike think he can hold PDP, Southsouth and His home state, in ransom, with his extravagant use of the unaccountable wealth he possesses?
“Thanks prof for this wonderful write up. Wike and his cohorts already read them.”
Alu Azege, E.D Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR), wrote: “Indeed. hashtag#greedyglutton is a diplomatic way of putting this. It’s unbelievable the history this generation is making for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Chike Osegbue, Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus, also sided with Odinkalu. “The irrational audacity of greed. The gods have pricked Nwike’s gluttonous palate so he can dance naked preparatory to self-destruction. Thank you Prof.”
On his part, Obinna Nwagbara Eze Chijioke, Team Lead at YSAD, wrote, “Well stated. We did not escort him to this country, indeed. His audacity of greed is sickening.”
For Dr. Onyemaechi Emmanuel Franklyne Ogbunwezeh, Director for Genocide Prevention in Africa, CSI International Switzerland at CSI-Schweiz | Christian Solidarity International, “Wike should look in the mirror. He will see the trouble with Nigeria.”
One Alhaji Musa, Awards Management Coordinator, Save the Children International, concurred. “Wike is a greedy person. God bless Prof.”
*Culled from TheNiche
