By Nwaorgu Faustinus
Reacting to a statement credited the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah titled, “Dakuku’s Attack On Odili, Height Of Frustration, Rascality – Rivers PDP Chairman”, the Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has denied any such statement.The spokesman Mr. Chris Finebone unequivocally stated that Dr. Dakuku Peterside DID NOT, for all intents and purposes, insult the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili as canvassed in Felix Obuah’s press statement, adding, “Dr. Peterside did not, and still does not, have any reasons to insult or show disrespect under any circumstances whatsoever to the former governor of Rivers State, his wife and, indeed, anyone.”
The APC notes that the issue in question is a mere verbatim reference Dr. Peterside made to the public statement of Gov. Nyesom Wike at a church thanksgiving service where he said: “Let me thank our former governor, Dr. Peter Odili [husband of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Odili]. He will call me midnight to tell me what to do….he will say ‘go so so place.’ I took all his advice, and here we are today.” These were the words of Gov. Nyesom Wike. Dr. Dakuku Peterside merely quoted the governor and then concluded his reference to the governor’s speech by saying: “This shocking confession needs no further explanation except for you and other decent Nigerians to further make your fair conclusions.”
The APC asked Felix Obuah and the PDP: Where lies the insult on Dr. Peter Odili and his wife in the reference Dr. Peterside made to Gov. Wike’s public comment?, maintaining that “indeed, if anyone indirectly insulted the former governor and his wife, it is Gov. Nyesom Wike because of his unwarranted verbal incontinence, drunken boasts and dropping of names of the former governor and his wife while holding discussions with his associates. Some of these same associates of Gov. Nyesom Wike, in turn, take the names dropped by the Governor to public space with its attendant negative perception.”
The R/S APC urged Felix Obuah and the PDP to compel Gov Wike to apologise to Dr. Peter Odili and Justice Mary Odili for woefully failing to exercise discretion in his public utterances and needlessly dropping their names while holding formal and informal discussions with friends and associates.
The APC assured former Governor Peter Odili and Justice Mary Odili that despite differences in political affiliation, the leadership and supporters of its party will continue to hold them in high esteem as eminent citizens and one time first family of our dear State for 8 years. We believe that nothing can take that away from history.
“We urge Felix Obuah, Jerry Needam and their ilk to strive to exhibit maturity and grasp of age-old hallowed principles in statecraft and politics by not painting every political issue in the only colours known to them – motor-park colours”, the statement advised.
