Former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili has praised Governor Siminalayi Fubara for safeguarding the state from being dominated by an individual’s personal interests.
A statement issued on Saturday by Nelson Chukwudi, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fubara, highlighted Odili’s remarks at an event in Port Harcourt organized by the Odili family in honor of the governor.
The event comes amid a well-publicized political rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The supremacy tussle, which began in December 2023, has created tension within Rivers State politics.
Odili, who served as governor from 1999 to 2007, commended Fubara for his resilience and leadership in navigating the ongoing crisis. He acknowledged the governor’s efforts to uphold good governance and resist attempts to transform Rivers State into what he described as a “private estate.”
The statement quoted Odili as saying:
“It has been over a year since the fierce but unnecessary fight for the soul of Rivers State began on October 25, 2023. Despite the challenges, Governor Fubara demonstrated exceptional fortitude, thwarting the quest by one man to take over the state as a personal possession. His leadership has steadied governance, emancipated the people of Rivers, and brought happiness to civil servants and citizens, reminiscent of the days when I was in office.”
Mary Odili, a former Supreme Court judge and Peter Odili’s wife, also expressed her family’s unwavering support for Governor Fubara. She assured the governor of their commitment to his administration’s success.
The ongoing political dispute between Fubara and Wike underscores the complexity of Rivers State’s political landscape, but Odili’s endorsement of Fubara signals strong backing from influential figures in the state.
