Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, says Mary Odili,
retiring justice of the supreme court, saved his political career in 2004.
Speaking on Sunday during Odili’s 70th birthday and
retirement thanksgiving mass in Port Harcourt, Rivers capital, Wike said he
cried to Odili when he got hint that his name was not included among those
cleared to contest as chairmen of local councils in the state.
The governor said Odili listened to him and took the
complaint to her husband, Peter Odili, then governor of the state, who resolved
the matter.
“In 2004, that time, her husband was the governor, so she was going to Bori camp for women empowerment scheme. I was to run for second tenure as chairman of my local government, Obio-Akpor,” Wike said.
“They were having lunch with her husband and the state party chairman then, Prince Uche Secondus. I was told that my name had been removed in the list. So, I ran down to government house.
“She had finished her own lunch, left her husband and was
entering the vehicle. I said ‘mummy I’m finished’. She asked what happened, I
said they’ve removed my name.
“She ran back straight to her husband and informed him. Her
husband asked who removed my name. At that time, Secondus had left. The husband
then called the security at the gate; they stopped Secondus and asked him to
come back.
“That was how I went back as second term chairman. For me, I
can’t talk about my growth without mentioning her. If she was not around that
day, to see the governor, you know it’s not an easy thing. Her being around
that particular day saved my career in politics. And so that was how I grew
from there to become what I am today.
“I have seen somebody who is very compassionate and very
caring. The moment you’re around her husband, she takes care of you. She sees
you as her husband’s person and so she will always relate with you. Some of us
are direct beneficiaries of the care through our relationship with the
husband.”
Wike noted that a vital lesson he learnt from Odili is the
determination to build the capacity to be successful in one’s career while not
ignoring the family.
The governor commended Odili for the 44 years of meritorious
public service, which he described as no mean feat.
On Thursday, the supreme court held a valedictory
session in honour of Odili, who is
retiring from service.
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