BAUCHI:The vitriol in the media and the harsh words Wike has used to publicly disparage those who helped shape his political career reflect the bitterness and disillusionment that seems to have characterized his relationships with key figures in his past. His unprovoked attacks on individuals like Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, retired Justice Mary Odili, are especially noteworthy. These were the very people whom Wike once openly acknowledged as the ones who salvaged his ailing political career at a critical time.
Wike had expressed his gratitude for their support, even admitting that his career might have floundered without their intervention. Yet, today, he refers to Dr. Odili and his wife in the most dismissive and derogatory terms. He has branded Dr. Odili as a “rent-seeker” and an “ingrate” — a man who was allegedly given a new political life by Wike himself, yet now disparaged in the harshest of terms. Such language, at times, verges on the obscene, and one could argue that it reflects a deeply troubled mind, one capable of conjuring up unprintable slurs to tarnish the reputations of those who once helped him.
Similarly, Wike’s relationship with Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi has taken a sharp turn for the worse, despite the fact that it was under Amaechi’s tutelage that Wike rose to prominence. Amaechi appointed Wike as his Chief of Staff when he was the Governor of Rivers State, and it was also during this period that Wike was appointed as a junior minister in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet. Despite the career opportunities Wike received under Amaechi, he has repeatedly insulted and maligned him using crude and belittling language. These unprovoked attacks are not only disrespectful but also seem to betray the foundational relationships that once helped Wike climb the political ladder.
Moreover, Wike’s betrayals are not limited to individuals in his immediate circle. His history of turning against past National Chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) underscores a pattern of behavior in which loyalty is non-existent, and self-interest is paramount. Wike is accused of having “perfected the illogic and morally reprehensible life” of a political opportunist — a classic use-and-dump figure who exploits relationships for personal gain and then discards them when they are no longer useful.
One of the most striking instances of this trait was his alleged role in the rise and fall of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who became the National Chairman of the PDP under Wike’s influence. Initially, Wike is said to have played a pivotal role in ensuring Sheriff’s ascent to the chairmanship position, only to later turn on him, using all available resources to tarnish his reputation and discredit his leadership. This dramatic shift in Wike’s political alliances paints a picture of someone who is willing to align with anyone, regardless of past differences, if it serves his interests, only to later abandon them when they no longer fit into his ever-shifting political strategy.
In sum, these actions suggest a man who is driven by an insatiable thirst for power and who sees relationships as tools to be exploited for his personal benefit, with little regard for loyalty, gratitude, or integrity. Wike’s behavior toward those who once helped him rise in politics reveals a deeper, darker side to his character — one that is willing to sacrifice anyone in his pursuit of greater influence and control.