Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has carpeted former Rivers State Governor Peter Odili for remarks he made that appeared to aim at his principal.
Odili, at an event in Port Harcourt organized by his family to honor Governor Siminalayi Fubara, had stated that Fubara prevented an individual from turning Rivers State into a “private estate.”
Many interpreted this comment as a veiled reference to Nyesom Wike.
In response to Odili’s statement, Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment.
He labeled Odili’s remarks as unbecoming of an elder statesman, accusing him of engaging in divisive and partisan rhetoric.
Olayinka wrote, “I’ve read the comments made by the former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and I can’t help but be disappointed. Someone who should act as an elder statesman has reduced himself to such a ridiculous level of partisanship. Well, he will get his deserved response from the FCT Minister in due course.”
Wike’s aides also condemned Odili’s remarks, claiming that the former governor had undermined his reputation by engaging in political attacks rather than offering constructive leadership.
The ongoing feud between Odili and Wike’s camp highlights the deepening political divides within Rivers State and the broader South-South region.