Former Commissioner for Works and later Water Resources during Peter Odili’s administrations in Rivers State, David Briggs, has excused claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that he resurrected Odili’s political career. Instead, Briggs credited Odili with working Wike’s ascent in politics.
Addressing reporters in Port Harcourt, Briggs stated that Wike’s second tenure as Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA was made concievable by Odili’s intervention. He said Odili reinstated Wike’s name on the nomination list, preparing him for his continued political ascent.
Briggs, who presently fills in as the Chairman, Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, encouraged the public to ignore Wike’s remarks about Odili, portraying the FCT Minister as someone who thrives in discord.
“Wike as a person cannot and will not survive where there is peace, and that is the problem we have in Rivers State today”, he said.
Briggs likewise accused Wike of instigating face off’s to ascert political relevance, referring to the recent lull in Rivers State’s political strains after a court judgement restored federal allocations to the state.
“If you note since after the court judgement concerning the release of federal allocation to the state government, the state had been quiet. Rivers State was fast enjoying peace, and Wike had just created the problems so that he will be the beneficiary.
He further claimed that Wike’s political accomplishment, including his gubernatorial bid, was facilitated by Odili and the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, with a viral video showing Wike being introduced to Odili by Patience Jonathan for political backing.
Briggs censured Wike’s comments as offending to Odili and Rivers people, stressing Odili’s significant role in building the state’s political structure.
“That is an insult not only to Peter Odili, but to Rivers State and to those of us who are his students and political children”
“I say so because Wike was not in any way our contemporary. He benefitted, I repeat, he benefitted from our initial political struggle”
“We laid the foundation called the political structure in Rivers State”.
Briggs, a native of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area who has held various political offices since 1999, accused Wike of presently instigating political crises across various local government areas to assert control.
He promised that River’s people would not give Wike room to continue profiting from such contentions.
He communicated displeasure on the fact that President Bola Tinubu may have neglected to call his minister, Nyesom Wike, to order.
Furthermore, he cautioned Wike to apologize to the people of Rivers State for his alleged excesses or face the possibility of more disclosures about him.
