Political Fallout: Wike Reveals Rift with Godfather Odili in Candid Interview

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, recently exposed a strain in his political ties with his political godfather and former governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili. During a televised interview in Abuja, Wike candidly admitted to ‘political differences’ between himself and Odili, signaling a significant shift in their political relationship.

Wike disclosed that the current status quo reflects a lack of collaboration and mutual work between him and Odili. The politician succinctly stated, ‘As it is today, politically, we don’t have a good relationship. We don’t work together.’ When pressed for further details on the reasons behind the fracture in his relationship with Odili, Wike simply reiterated, ‘there are some political differences’.

In a noteworthy revelation, Wike emphasized that while he holds Odili in high regard as a father figure, their divergent political paths have led to a clear separation. Analysts attribute this paradigm shift to the ongoing political feud between Wike and his immediate successor as the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, which has seemingly strained his relationship with Odili.

Responding to recent declarations of support for Fubara by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) figures, Wike condemned the backing provided by the likes of Abiye Sekibo, Uche Secondus, Celestine Omehia, and Austin Opara. He referred to them as ‘political buccaneers’ and deemed them irrelevant in current political discourse.

Wike dismissed the vocal support for Fubara as a ploy by expired politicians to cling to relevance, highlighting that he had ousted them from the party. He specifically addressed the suspension of Uche Secondus, stressing that the courts had upheld his suspension, thus questioning Secondus’ current status within the PDP.

The minister’s scathing remarks targeted the integrity and credibility of the PDP leaders, questioning their sudden endorsement of Fubara post-election, after previously criticizing his political acumen and affiliations. He highlighted their past attempts to undermine Fubara’s credibility within the party, casting doubt on their political motives.