*Sekibo, Omehia, Ikuru, Secondus, Lee Maeba, Opara, others say ‘Wike becoming a monumental embarrassment’
*CONCERNED ELDERS OF RIVERS STATE
PORT HARCOURT
*NYESOM WIKE’S REMARKS AGAINST DR PETER ODILI: SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT
We, the Concerned Elders of Rivers State, issue this statement with a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to uphold the values of respect, unity and decorum that have long been the foundation of our society.
It has come to our attention, again sadly, that the former Governor of Rivers State Chief Nyesom Wike through his words, at an event in a Church this week at Oroigwe, has directed insults against HE Sir Dr Peter Odili, a former Governor of Rivers State and a highly respected national Elder statesman of our dear Country Nigeria and his family. Such behaviour is not only unbecoming but also stands in contrast to the time-honoured traditions of mutual respect, especially respect for elders and deference to wisdom and experience that we all hold dear in Rivers State.
As elders, we believe in the power of dialogue and the importance of addressing grievances through constructive and respectful means. However, the act of disrespect towards elders is a serious matter that cannot be ignored. Elders are custodians of our heritage, wisdom and values, and any affront to their dignity is an injury to the entire community. This is why we stand tall against the unfortunate remarks of Chief Nyesom Wike and his penchant to throw caution and decency to the wind by insulting dignified persons and institutions including respected traditional rulers and clergymen whenever he pleases. Otherwise, how would any one justify the current disrespect to the Odilis or would we forget so soon how he denigrated Sir Celestine Omehia, a former Governor of Rivers State or the other leaders including Prince Uche Secondus or the King of Eberi Omuma Barr Onyekachi Amaonwu JP?
As elders, we do not want to condescend to the low level of Nyesom Wike. As a person who holds a high public office, he is expected to be a peace maker and role model who is supposed to be a leader by virtue of his status as a former Governor, holder of the national honour of the Commander of the Order of The Niger, Life Bencher and a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are deeply surprised that all these elevations mean nothing to him and that is why it is important to address some of the issues he raised in the Church at Oroigwe to enable the public to know the truth.
CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM
The only reason why Nyesom Wike went berserk against Dr Peter Odili is that Dr Odili, in a statesmanly manner, advised him against the impeachment plot of the incumbent Governor of Rivers State HE Sir Siminalayi Fubara in a little over three months in office. When Nyesom Wike refused and continued to plot the destabilisation of the government, Dr Odili took sides with the Governor in the interest of the people of Rivers State. That is why Nyesom Wike found himself in the burning furnace like the proverbial child who found himself in the burning fire against his father’s advice to stay away from the furnace.
Having said this, it is only proper for us at this point to set the record straight on the several baseless allegations which Nyesom Wike made against Dr Peter Odili, his family and the Pamo University of Medical Sciences.
1. STATUS OF DR PETER ODILI
It must be noted that as an elder and founder of the 1998 Restoration Team which groomed almost all the current politicians in Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili has the right as a political father to call anyone of his erring political children including Nyesom Wike to order. Aside from being a Governor for eighth years, Dr Peter Odili is an accomplished Medical Practitioner with a thriving medical practice even before he became Governor. Today, he is the Founder of the first private Medical University in Nigeria. Such a man does not need any “resurrection like Lazarus” by anybody. At 76 years of age and having left office over seventeen years ago as Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili with a high spirit of self-contentment does not need any patronage from anyone given his accomplishments as a family man, successful professional, great politician and a distinguished national statesman.
2. PAMO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Pamo University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) founded and solely funded by Dr Peter Odili and family. The potential success story of PUMS attracted the Rivers State Government to seek collaboration for the training of quality health care personnel to serve the health needs of the people of Rivers State. The support that Rivers State Goverment gave to PUMS is for the benefit of Rivers State and her people. HE Dr Peter Odili must be commended for his vision and not vilified. PUMS is the first private medical university in Nigeria and its collaboration with the Rivers State Government has produced Medical Doctors and healthcare professionals that have been engaged by the Rivers State Government. Therefore, it is not a financial favour done to the Odilis but to boost the healthcare sector in the state.
3. BUILDING AN OFFICIAL HOUSE FOR DR PETER ODILI
Chief Nyesom Wike did not build any house for Dr Peter Odili as he claimed. Dr Odili must be commended for the modest lifestyle he lives even after serving as Governor of Rivers State for eight years. As a modest man, Dr Odili, went back to his house where he was living as a private medical practitioner. The house that the RSG built for Dr Odili in old GRA is not a favour from Nyesom Wike. It is the right conferred on him by law as a former governor. In fact, Dr Odili was very reluctant to relocate from his old house to the one built by Rivers State Government because of his contented lifestyle, and had to be persuaded by some of us to accept what was rightly his due by law.
4. APPOINTMENT OF JUSTICE MARY ODILI (JSC rtd.)
Nyesom Wike is quarreling with the appointment of Hon Justice Mary Odili (JSC rtd.) as the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt. In fact, this is one of the best appointments that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has made as Governor. If a Supreme Court Justice who rose from the ranks to the top does not qualify as Pro Chancellor of Rivers State University, then who else?
5. APPOINTMENT OF RIVERS STATE COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH
There is no law which says that the children of former Governors or their wives should not hold public offices if they are qualified. If that is the case, then should we query why Nyesom Wike is a Minister and his wife is a Justice of the Court of Appeal? No, we shall not do so. It is good in his house, but he sees it as bad in Dr Odili’s case. Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mrs Adaeze Oreh (nee Odili) is very competent to hold that office. She is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, Consultant Family Physician, Public Health Specialist and Universal Health Care Advocate with degrees from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as well as Imperial College Business School. She rose to Principal Medical Officer and Consultant Special Grade at the Department of Hospital Services of the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja. Prior to her appointment as Commissioner, Dr Oreh was Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the National Blood Service Commission, and was pursuing a part-time PhD programme in the Netherlands before the present assignment. What other qualification does Nyesom Wike want for a State’s Commissioner for Health? To the glory of God, since assumption of office she has shone like a thousand stars to the point that at the 2024 Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge award ceremony in State House Banquet Hall , UNICEF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency ranked Rivers State as No.1 in the South South and No. 2 in Nigeria for primary healthcare delivery. All other children of Dr Peter Odili who are holding positions are there purely on merit. Nyesom Wike’s attempt to divide the Odili family by falsely mention the nomination of his nephew is clearly in bad taste knowing that it was Nyesom Wike wo rejected the nomination of the nephew and insisted that Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Opobo/Nkoro and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas must have female commissioners. These were complied with.
6. DR PETER ODILI AND PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION
Nyesom Wike accused Dr Peter Odili of “chickening out” of the Presidential race when he was told to step down in the interest of the party by President Olusegun Obasanjo. What this means is that he (Nyesom Wike) would disobey President Bola Tinubu if he were told to step down from any race the way President Olusegun Obasanjo directed Dr Odili to do. Dr Peter Odili did not chicken out. In retrospect, we commend the loyalty of Dr Peter Odili who obeyed the call by the PDP to step down for Late President Musa Yar’Adua as the PDP Presidential candidate in the 2007 presidential election to ensure North-South balancing. As a partyman and team player, Dr Peter Odili courageously obeyed without pulling down the house or insulting other Nigerians even though it was certain he would have won the primaries. When Dr Peter Odili was also not chosen as the Vice Presidential candidate, he accepted his fate and rolled out the drums for his brother from the Niger Delta, Dr Goodluck Jonathan who emerged as the Vice Presidential candidate and later President of Nigeria without firing a bullet. It was Niger Delta’s gain which Dr Odili represented at that time. This is the measure of a statesman and team player that is alien to Nyesom Wike. Therefore, it was not all about Dr Odili but about the directive of his Party for the stability of the nation.
DEMANDS
Consequent upon the foregoing, we demand that Nyesom Wike tenders an unreserved apology to HE Dr Peter Odili, his wife and children for the magnitude of disrespect and abuses Nyesom Wike rained on them.
He should also apologise to the people of Rivers State for the monumental embarrassment he is causing the State.
Dated this 30th day of December, 2024
Signed:
1. HE Celestine Omehia
2. HE Tele Ikuru
3. Prince Uche Secondus
4. Rt Hon Austin Opara PhD
5. Senator Lee Maeba
6. Senator Ngoji Denton West
7. Alabo Sir Dr Abiye Sekibo Achin lll
8. Dr Dam Sam Jaja
9. Alabo David Briggs
10. High Chief Dr Shedrack Akolokwu
11. Dr Reginald Okeya
12. HE Amb. Oji Ngofa
13. Hon Emma Okah PhD
14. Alabao Senator Adawari Pepple
15. Chief Ambrose Nwuzi
16. Chief Emeh Glory Emeh PhD
