The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) have crossed swords over the alleged attack on former Governor Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili, bythe defeated APC governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside.

Rivers PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, described the allegation by Peterside that Peter and Mary Odili were ‘used’ to procure the verdict of the Supreme Court which validated the election of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike as absolutely false, misleading and showing lack of respect to the Odili family.

The PDP Chairman in a statement issued on Wednesday further described the attack by Mr. Dakuku Peterside on Odili and his wife as the height of frustration and rascality.

He said that Dakuku and the APC has pushed it too far in their desperation to take over the reign of leadership of the State.

Bro. Obuah, in the statement signed by Mr Jerry Needam, his Special Adviser on Media, said the insult on the revered statesman and his wife, a respected Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria has again exposed Mr. Dakuku as bereft of respect and regard for elders.

The PDP Chairman while condemning what he called Dakuku’s penchant for insulting elders, said the attack was one insult too many and reminded him of the popular proverb which says that “an obedient child lives to grow old while a scornful child is only digging his early grave.”

Bro. Obuah, who noted that disrespect for elders is alien to the culture and tradition of Rivers people, advised Dakuku and members of his APC still licking their wounds following the Supreme Court judgment to jettison selfish interest for the sake of peace.

The Chairman described Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Odili as worthy citizens of Rivers State who deserved the respect and regard of Rivers people, having worked tirelessly to etch their names on the marble, adding that the generality of Rivers people owed the couple a duty to protect and guide their name jealously.

Bro. Obuah declared that those who knew Dakuku growing up had expected that he would have outgrown childish behaviours that were characterised by irresponsibility and rascality, noting that those with proper upbringing talk to elders with respect and dignity.

The PDP Chairman said the people of the state remained eternally grateful to the Supreme Court of Nigeria for foreclosing Dakuku’s ambition to continue to cause crisis in Rivers State, adding that the judgment of the apex court was indeed an act of God.

Bro Obuah said it was in view of the foregoing that the PDP and well-meaning people of Rivers State demand unreserved apology from Mr. Dakuku Adol Peterside for insulting Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, Justice Mary Odili, while the PDP would take further steps to seek redress and call on Dakuku to account for his days in government as Works Commissioner.

Rivers APC yesterday reacted angrily to the allegation. The State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said in a statement signed by his Senior Media Aide, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze:

“Though it is not our intention to exchange words with a group that have proved themselves as insensitive to the lives and plight of the Rivers State people but in order to put the records straight, let us state that the Rivers State PDP Chairman, Mr Obuah was totally wrong in his statement as Dr Peterside never insulted the Odilis but it seems that Mr Obuah must be suffering from low level education as he could not interpret correctly the statement by a credible and respected by PhD holder and respected gentleman from Rivers State who have proved himself as a better leader.

“For avoidance of doubt, Dr Peterside was only reacting to the insinuation by Chief Wike that the Odili’s were the forces behind his Supreme Court’s victory. For avoidance of doubt, this is what Dr Dakuku Peterside said, “For the records, in his speech at the church service, Gov. Nyesom Wike probably forgot that he was on live telecast when he stated: Let me thank our former governor, Dr. Peter Odili [husband of Supreme Court Justice, Mary Credible information confirmed that Nyesom Wike had earlier confessed to some persons of having met one of the Justices of the Supreme Court in Mbaise during an important burial, another at Owerri in a hotel and yet others in Dubai and Saudi Arabia respectively. These Justices were in the panel that decided the matter in Wike’s favour.

“However, the most striking revelation by Nyesom Wike is contained in his account at the thanksgiving service last Sunday. He obviously stunned his audience and the watching world when he confessed that when it came to the Judges, Dr. Peter Odili and the wife Justice Mary Odili [a Justice of the Supreme Court] were his advisers. This simply confirmed his earlier statements that he had contact with the Justices after several attempts to reach the Chief Justice of the country failed. It is therefore obvious that the decision of the Supreme Court on the Rivers State Election was not a product of justice but rather a product of compromise and orchestrated contrivance to legalise electoral violence and rigging and, in turn, reward injustice. This calls for serious introspection by our Judiciary and judicial officers.

“For the records, in his speech at the church service, Gov. Nyesom Wike probably forgot that he was on live telecast when he stated: “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. This shocking confession needs no further explanation except for you and other decent Nigerians to further make your fair conclusions.”

“With this clarification, Mr Obuah should try and busy himself with how to clean the dirty environment Wike’s administration has bestowed on Rivers State as a legacy.”

•Photo shows Dakuku Peterside.

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