The Rivers State Elders Council has issued a strong warning to individuals attempting to fuel tensions between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and former Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili.
The elders urged such individuals to desist immediately, emphasizing the need for respect and peace among leaders in the state.
This warning follows recent remarks from a group calling itself the “Concerned Elders,” led by former Governor Sir Celestine Omehia, who demanded that Wike apologize to Odili.
The comments have added to the ongoing political friction in Rivers State, with Odili siding with Governor Siminalayi Fubara against Wike in recent controversies.
In a statement released in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Rivers State Elders Council, led by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Senator Magnus Abe, and 42 other prominent elders, criticized the Concerned Elders for their actions.
The council described their comments as “puerile” and suggested they lacked courage and genuine intent.
The council also highlighted that many of these so-called Concerned Elders were once allies of Wike but are now aligning themselves with Governor Fubara.
They pointed out that despite Odili’s role in the political disputes, Wike had refrained from making negative comments out of respect for the former governor.
The statement partly reads, “We consider it unfortunate that the comments came from elders who lacked the courage to let the public know what prompted the remarks by Nyesom Wike.
“Did Dr Odili deserve respect in return for being deliberately disrespectful to the Minister of the FCT? The answer is no.
“Dr. Odili, an elder and former governor of Rivers State, should not have thrown decorum to the wind in making statements in his quest to please the governor, who was his Special Guest of Honour at the event, no matter what the incentive may have been.”
It added, “We advise Dr Peter Odili and his cohorts to kindly leave Chief Nyesom Wike alone, while they continue with their exploitative manipulations of the Governor of Rivers State, their new benefactor.
