Justice Odili saved my political career, made me what I am today – Wike

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said that but for the intervention of Justice Mary Odili, his political career would have been long over.

Wike was speaking at the thanksgiving to mark Justice Odili’s 70th birthday and her retirement as Justice of the Supreme Court, held at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Chaplaincy, Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) in Port Harcourt.

The governor said he ran to her for assistance after he discovered that his name was removed from the list of candidates during his re-election as local government chairman in 2004.

“In 2004, when her husband was governor, and I was to run for second term as chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area but later learnt my name was removed from the list of contestants cleared for the election so I ran to the Government House.

“They were having lunch with her husband and State PDP chairman then, Prince Uche Secondus. But she had finished and was entering the vehicle when I approached her to say ‘Mummy I’m finished, they’ve removed my name’.

“She ran back to inform her husband who orderd that Secondus be called back. That was how I secured a second term as chairman. For me, I can’t talk about my growth without mentioning her. Her being around that particular day saved my career in politics. And so that was how I grew from there to become what I am today,” Wike said.

He also praised the retired Justice Odili for giving her family the required attention despite having a great career.

“I have seen somebody who is very compassionate and very caring. The moment you’re around her husband, she takes care of you. She sees you as her husband’s person and so she will always relate with you. Some of us are direct beneficiaries of the care through our relationship with the husband,” Wike added.

Justice Odili described the joy she felt as unspeakable and a thing of honour to have Governor Wike do a vote of thanks in her honour.

“The good Lord knows that Peter and I don’t know how to properly thank God. Our journey in life has been such that the good Lord has always been there. There have been challenges no doubt, but the good Lord did not promise us that we will not have challenges, tribulations or difficulties, but he has always stood by us and made us prevail in all those trials and tribulations,” she said.