Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has gifted a mansion to
former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, on the latter’s 74th birthday.
Media aide to the Governor, Mr. Kelvin Ebiri, in a
statement, said the residence was built and donated to Odili by the Rivers
state Government.
According to Ebiri, Wike spoke on Monday during the 74th
birthday reception organised to honour the former governor of Rivers State, Dr.
Peter Odili, at the private residence built and donated to him by the State
government in Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt.
Wike is a political godson to Dr. Odili, who was the state
Governor from 1999 to 2007 and is commonly referred to as the golden governor
of Nigeria.
Governor Wike was the executive chairman of Obio/Akpor local
government Area of the state when Odili held sway as Governor.
Wike had in several fore eulogized Odili and his wife,
Justice Mary Odili (retd) for their role in his political career and success in
life.
While further eulogizing the sterling qualities of the
ex-governor, Wike said he had been well schooled by Odili in politics, saying
his present political ordeals were not surprising.
Although the cost of the multi-million naira was not
disclosed, Wike said Odili gave him and others everything and prepared them for
the future.
He recalled that when Dr. Peter Odili was to run for the
office of the president, he had a large crowd following, happily.
But noted that when the issue of governorship of Rivers
State was to be decided, and he did not give those who wanted it, they all left
him, ran to Abuja to thwart his presidential ambition.
Governor Wike, however, said he has been holding on to the
advice of Dr. Odili. Hence, he was not surprised at the turn of events and the
outcome of the PDP presidential primary.
He described Dr. Peter Odili as a true leader of men who
groomed many, and supported a lot of persons to political lamplight,
particularly in Rivers State and across the country.
The statement by the governor’s spokesman partly read,
“There was a time every political class abandoned Dr. Odili. This is a man who
gave us everything. Some people called him Mr. Donatus.
“There was no abuse he did not get. Everybody he tried to
help their families, at the end of the day, all betrayed him.
“For us, we have used him as a school and we thank him for
making himself available for us to use him to learn so that we won’t be shocked
of whatever that is going to happened.”
The Governor expressed delight for the opportunity to have
known Dr. Odili and be able to celebrate him, pointing to the several support
and gains from the political tutelage under Dr. Odili that had made him
accomplish his political successes.
He reiterated that the benevolence of the Odili’s made it
possible for Ikwerre sons to emerge governors of Rivers State.
In his response, former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili
said he and his wife, Hon. Justice Mary Odili (retired) were overwhelmed by the
birthday gift courtesy of the State government.
Odili explained that during his tenure as governor, governor
Wike was the best performing council chairman in the State.
He lauded Wike for investing in human capacity development,
infrastructure, and building the best Law School campus in Port Harcourt.
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