By Abiola Olawale
Former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili, has dropped a bombshell, sidelining the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike over the political power play in the state.
The former governor also declared the incumbent governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, as the current political leader of the state, amid the ongoing political feud with Wike.
Odili made this known on Thursday during the commissioning event of a Comprehensive Primary Health Centre, Ndoni, in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of the state.
The New Diplomat reports that the health facility was built and donated to the Rivers State government by the Pamo Educational Foundation (PEF), facilitated by Odili and his family.
Speaking during the event, Odili urged the Governor to ignore anyone trying to jostle power with him in the state. He added that the people of Rivers State are strongly behind Fubara.
Odili said: “Thanks for standing up to defend the interest of all Rivers people. We are proud of you. Politics is over; it is now time for governance. You have hit the ground running.
“Your government is aligning correctly with President Tinubu’s government, especially in the area of education, agriculture and now the health sector. Our people said I should tell you to stand with the President and align with his positive policies and link the people of Rivers State with the centre.
“They have asked me to tell you that you are the political leader of Rivers State. Rivers people say where you go, they will go with you; where you stand, they will stand with you. Don’t look back, stay focused, knowing that your people are behind you.”
Commissioning the facility, Governor Fubara commended Odili for embarking on and completing such a project that will be of great benefit to the people of the Ndoni community.
He said: “It is an honor to be part of this historic event. Dr. Peter Odili is a private man who has returned what God has done to him. He used his resources and not the government’s resources to build such a facility for his people of Ndoni.”
It would be recalled that Fubara, the political godson of the Federal Capital Territory minister, has parted ways with the former governor in what has been described as the battle for the soul of the oil-rich state.
The crisis took a dramatic turn when 27 lawmakers believed to be loyalists of Wike defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Fubara, who appears ready to damn the consequences, wasted no time in demolishing the state House of Assembly complex.
Though things have since moved very fast with a couple of top government functionaries resigning their positions, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had since initiated a peace deal between the duo and things have largely died down.
