former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, has expressed regret that he supported Mr. Rotimi Amaechi to become the governor of the state in 2007.
Odili said Amaechi dismantled the structure of the Peoples Democratic Party through his (Amaechi) defection to the All Progressives Congress.
He explained that but for the quick intervention of a former Minister of State for Education and PDP governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, the party would have gone into oblivion.
The ex-governor, who spoke on Saturday during Wike’s campaign tour in Ndoni Local Government Area on Saturday, said Amaechi worked against the PDP structure put in place by the founding fathers of the party.
Odili pointed out that the PDP, in the past, supported Amaechi’s political career with good intentions, adding that he and the PDP had accepted their mistake and were poised to correct it in 2015.
It was the first time the former governor would speak publicly on the strained relationship between him and incumbent governor.
He said, “We thought we did the right thing by supporting Amaechi to become the governor of the state. We left a united state; we also left a united party. The PDP was one, Rivers State is the PDP.
“There was no other party in Rivers State other than the PDP. Whatever the party hierarchy said would happen. The secretary is here to support what I am telling you here today.
“With all the best intentions, we supported his political career and ambition. We thought we did what was best for the state. As you know, until a man has power and has money, you don’t really know him.
“One thing is clear; we have accepted our mistake and we are determined to correct it in 2015. Who would have thought that a governor who won an election on the platform of the PDP would defect with the mandate of the party to another party?
“Who would have thought that a governor elected on the platform of the PDP would abandon the PDP to join an opposition party? The elders of the party who are here can corroborate what I am saying here today. We ran a cohesive party. We had respect for the elders of the party. We had respect for party members.”
Explaining that no member of the PDP attempted to hijack the party during his reign as the leader, Odili recalled that party officials respected elders during his days as the state governor.
He, however, expressed gratitude to Wike for reuniting the PDP in the state immediately Amaechi defected to the APC, along with the former state chairman of the PDP, Chief Godspower Ake, his commissioners, his supporters and 22 out of the 23 local government chairmen.
“I want to thank the governorship candidate of the PDP for the 2015 governorship election and the next governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for miraculously rescuing the party from disintegration and working tirelessly to unite the members of the party.
“By the special grace of God in February, we are going to the polls. The first election is to re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term. The second election will be the governorship election where our candidate, Wike, will emerge as the next governor of Rivers State.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Peter, so you are one of them. You that stole Nigeria's money to invest in South Africa. What a big shame! Please go and hide your head in shame Peter
ReplyDeletethe first one is to elect GMB VS PYO nd d second one is to elect DAKUKU. Odili is too late 2 cry wen d head is cut-off...we d rivers shall continue wit d change to our promise land. U go see wonders com 2015.
ReplyDeleteAPC have failed for We cannot support opposition in Rivers Wiki will regain our lost Glory -Up PDP.
DeleteA day dream they say is dangerous but meaningless. Odili, you are dreaming for supporting empty vessel thug like Wike. We shall see February GOD'S willing.
ReplyDeleteBut how can odili make dis statement ? Did the people of Rivers voted for Amechi in 2007? They voted for Celestine Omehia dates used to substitute Amechi with Odili duin nothing! Amechi won his case in d court. D court made Amechi governor in 2007 while he won his election on his own in 2011. Odili can only say he supported him to get d pdp ticket in 2007 but abandoned him immediately obasanjo changed d party flag bearer.
ReplyDeleteIf not a govrnt that supports corruption a man like Odili is suppose to be in a cave hiding by now.
ReplyDeletePeter, People like you should not be talking in Public, You and you counterpart in Bayelsa DSP should head your head because you are under the AMNESTY program of GEJ. Well wait until GEJ is out in 2015 and watch your case file come up dramatically.
ReplyDeletePeter, you should be ashamed of yourself by now! relax we know the truth.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Sir Dr Peter Odili. some of the comments i read are from people that are not from Rivers State and are not abreast with political developments in Rivers State. If Amaechi is sincere in getting the change he preaches from his ;ip and not his mind why didnt he pick Senator Magnus as the Governorship Aspirant? That would have gone a long way to tell people that this man is serious and has not sentiments attached but instaed he choose his puppet and stooge Dakuku who will always answer yes sir to anything Amaech wants. one thind you must understand is that if Dakuku is there as the Governor of which he wont win is same as having an ikwerre Gov cos Dakuku is Amaech and Amaechi is Dakuku so who is deceiving who. For me Sir odili has said it all, Rivers State is a pdp state and a peaceful one and by the Grace of God no politician from anywhere will bring fight cos we are one family in Rivers State.
ReplyDeleteAmaechi and his APC is only causing problems withing families with their APC and True Rivers People will unite and resist them.Peace will reign in Rivers State and Goodluck and Wike will also win in Rivers State. Amaech must learn to respect his seniours,constituted Authority, Rivers Elders and chiefs and in general Rivers People and himself too. He dosent talk and act like a true son of Rivers State talkless of his action.
Peter, it's no longer business as usual. The people of River state have seen the need to take their destiny in their own hands. You and your cohort can no longer fool them. Amechi is not a saint but a better governor than you. He govern with the fear of God. It's just natural for the people to follow him. The wind of change is not peculiar to Rivers but the whole nation. We are tired of bad leaders and you know where you belong.
ReplyDeleteThief who suppose to be in jail.
ReplyDeleteThief who suppose to be in jail.
ReplyDeleteHear this rogue oo. Aah! Thief Odilllli
ReplyDeletePeter Odili, your days are numbered, not even the perpetual injunction by the High Court to stop your prosecution by EFCC engineered and influenced by your wife Justice Mary Odili ( Smuggled into the Supreme Court as a Justice) will save you from eventual prosecution by GMB. Your best option is to continue to support PDP and GEJ to evade prosecution after bleeding Rivers Treasury and resources dry and also institutionalizing Militancy in Rivers State (The people shall never forget). Your end is near and the books will be dusted once again to finally bring you to justice for the sake of Rivers People.
ReplyDeleteOne thing for sure is that Amaechi messed up Rivers State in his second term as governor. What did we benefit? Nothing good happened in proportion to what we expected. All was due to personal political ambition. Though, I personally like Dakuku Peterside, time is not yet right for him to come in as Governor. He is a shade too early and it is Amaechi's plotting again that has made him come out too soon. That may cost him the position. Dakuku is not yet ripe to be Rivers governor, he would be too loyal and controlled by Amaechi, and has not been putting his acts together as an intending governorship aspirant. He's just being hand led by Amaechi, and that's not the kind of governor we need now. We need the spirit of Magnus Abe or Nyesom Wike as Rivers governor. My opinion is just raw as a Rivers man with no affiliations.
ReplyDeleteOdili, I use to respect you because you are my inlaw, I can see you have short memories, do you think Nigerians are fools? PDP has lost it, they've gotten it wrong this time.
ReplyDeleteRIP PDP
ReplyDelete