Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has subtly criticized his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, for self-aggrandizing infrastructure projects during his tenure.
Wike, who is now the FCT minister, had named a cancer hospital and a judicial institute after Peter Odili and his wife, Mary, respectively, both prominent figures in the state’s political history.
“I built the cancer centre (hospital) in record time by the best construction company, Julius Berger, and I named it after one man,” Mr Wike said, apparently referring to Mr Odili.
“I built the judiciary institute and I named it after one woman,” Mr Wike said, referring to Mr Odili’s wife, Mary, a remark that has triggered outrage among Rivers State residents.
The criticism came after a rift developed between Wike and the Odili family, leading to Wike’s disparaging comments about them at a public gathering in Port Harcourt.
During a recent event in Ndoni, where a healthcare facility funded by Peter Odili was inaugurated, Governor Fubara took the opportunity to highlight the contrast between his administration’s approach and that of Wike’s, emphasizing a focus on public service over personal legacy.
“Let me thank this wonderful family. Our leader (Mr Odili). It is the best because you are doing it when you’re not in office. The ones I’m doing now are public funds. But the one that we are commissioning today is an ‘I’. I’m even surprised that you didn’t use the word ‘I’, so I dash you the word, take am – ‘I’.
Fubara expressed his astonishment at the presence of the chairperson of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area at the event, noting the general absence of local government chairpersons at state functions since his fallout with Wike.
“I will not end without saying this. I’m surprised that I saw the chairperson of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.
“Because I know for a very long time now any events that have to do with the state government, all the local government chairmen as it were don’t participate.
“I hope when he leaves here they are not going to sack him. Let me say it here, everyone of you who thinks you are disrespecting me. You’ve already dug your pit. For those of you who have chosen a contrary path of political salvation, safe journey.
“We’ll flow in a direction that we’ll get to our destination to make our people proud.
“They say we’re clueless. If providing quality education and healthcare services is being clueless, then we agree, but we will not do roads to our farms. We’ll not do roads to please somebody. It’s not about the roads and the flyovers but the people,” the governor said.
He stressed that his governance is people-centric, not infrastructure-centric.
Fubara’s comments reflect ongoing political tensions in Rivers State and a commitment to redirecting the focus of governance to the welfare of its citizens.
