Former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili has called on all Rivers people, irrespective of political affiliation to totally support Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to consolidate on the rapid rise of a New Rivers State.
\nThis is as the Chaplain of Our Lady of Holy Chaplaincy of Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Rev Monsignor Pius Kii stated that lowest point in the 70 years of former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili was when his political godson, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi attempted to destroy his political life through a kangaroo Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
\nBoth leaders spoke at the Special Thanksgiving Mass for the 70th Birthday Celebration of Dr Peter Odili organised by the Rivers State Government at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Chaplaincy, Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
\nThe former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili declared: \u201cLet me use this opportunity to request our people, all Rivers men and women, our chiefs and the entire political class, everybody that is proud to be identified and called a Rivers man or woman, to give your total support to this governor.
\n\u201cI am not saying it from a political position. I am talking from the position of an elder-statesman. This is because, with his leadership, we can achieve total cohesion and unity of our people. Once that is achieved, the sky is the take off point for the New Rivers State that he is building \u201c.
\nOdili described Wike as a loyal politician who was outstanding in his commitment to the development of Rivers State.
\n\u201cI have been governor, I have worked under governors and I have seen governors after me. This man is unique.
\n\u201cJust to tell you that of all the people we have worked politically with, from way back in the eighties. Nobody in the political terrain can compete with this governor\u201d, Odili said.
\nHe thanked Wike for initiating the celebration of his 70th Birthday, noting that the family had planned for a private low-key celebration.
\nIn his homily, the Chaplain of Our Lady of Holy Chaplaincy of Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Rev Monsignor Pius Kii said despite betrayals by the likes of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Wike stood by Odili.
\nKii said: \u201cOne of Odili\u2019s lowest moments was when he was dragged by one of his erstwhile sons to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up by the Rotimi Amaechi administration aimed at damaging his reputation and preventing him from holding political offices.
\n\u201cDespite these betrayals, we are grateful to God that some remain loyal sons, particularly His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and countless others in the state and in the country.
\n\u201cHaving the love of one like Governor Wike is having the love of many. For one with Wike is majority. For in him, God put 10 men in one man. Your Excellency, Dr Peter Odili, be rest assured that those who are for you and with you are more than those who have abandoned you\u201d, Kii said.
\nThe cleric declared that Dr Peter Odili spiritualised political language, noting that he invoked God at all times.
\nHe added that Odili never used his investments and appearances in churches for political opportunities.
\nKii said that Wike has taken over from Odili, developing the Christian faith and embarking on massive developmental projects.
\nHighpoint of the Holy Mass was the cutting of the 70th Birthday Cake provided by Knights of the Catholic Church.
\nThe Holy Mass was attended by former governors, serving National Assembly members, former ministers, traditional rulers, jurists and prominent leaders of Rivers State.
\nMeanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his good wishes to former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, on the occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary.
\nA statement by his media office, yesterday, said \u201cPresident Buhari recognises the important contributions the celebrant and prominent political figure has made to the development of his immediate community, home state, the Niger Delta, the nation and humanity as a physician and third governor of Rivers State.
\n\u201cAs a statesman and Knight Commander of the Order of St Sylvester in the Catholic Church, the President appreciates Sir Odili\u2019s role in fostering peaceful and harmonious environment in the wider Niger Delta region through peaceful engagement and meaningful dialogue, in line with this administration\u2019s commitment to peace, stability and development in the region.
\n\u201cAs family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers gather to celebrate Dr Odili\u2019s milestones and achievements, President Buhari prays God almighty to sustain him with continued good health and fulfillment in the coming years\u201d, the statement added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former Rivers State Governor, Dr Peter Odili has called on all Rivers people, irrespective of political affiliation to totally support Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to consolidate on the rapid rise of a New Rivers State. This is as the Chaplain of Our Lady of Holy Chaplaincy of Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":183290,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-183289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-front-pix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=183289"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183289\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/183290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=183289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=183289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=183289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}