Odili Does Not Deserve Respect In Return For Disrespecting Wike – Rivers Elders

The Rivers State Elders Council has issued a stern warning to those allegedly stoking the ongoing tension between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, urging them to desist immediately.

This follows recent remarks by a group of ‘Concerned Elders’ led by former Rivers Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, who called on Wike to apologise to Odili for their political disagreements.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, signed by Ferdinand Alabraba, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Senator Magnus Abe, and 42 other prominent Rivers elders, the council described the comments by the Concerned Elders as “puerile” and lacking in courage.

The council alleged that the so-called Concerned Elders were individuals who had previously aligned with Wike but were now portrayed as supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“Despite Dr. Odili’s active role in the current Rivers State crisis, Chief Nyesom Wike has never made any negative remarks against him, because of the respect he has for Odili,” the statement noted.

The council, however, condemned Odili’s remarks at a recent Christmas service, where he reportedly accused Wike of attempting to capture Rivers State as his private estate.

They described the comments as unbecoming of an elder statesman and unacceptable.

“We consider it unfortunate that the comments came from elders who lacked the courage to let the public know what prompted the remarks by Nyesom Wike,” the statement read. “Did Dr. Odili deserve respect in return for being deliberately disrespectful to the Minister of the FCT? The answer is no.”

The elders urged Odili to exercise more restraint in his public utterances, accusing him of pandering to Governor Fubara for personal gain.

“We advise Dr. Peter Odili and his cohorts to kindly leave Chief Nyesom Wike alone, while they continue with their exploitative manipulations of the Governor of Rivers State, their new benefactor,” the council stated.