EYE OPENER: How Justice Mary Odili Saved My Political Career - Wike

Wike recalled how he cried to Justice Odili when he got the hint that his name was removed among those cleared to contest either as chairmen of local councils in Rivers.

Having listened to him, Wike said the retired jurist took the complaint to her husband, Dr Peter Odili, who was the Rivers State governor then and he acted on it immediately.

Wike stated this on Sunday during the 70th birthday and retirement thanksgiving mass of Justice Odili as Justice of the Supreme Court that was held at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Chaplaincy, Catholic Institute of West Africa, (CIWA) in Port Harcourt.

"In 2004, at that time, her husband was the governor, so she was going to Bori Camp for the women empowerment scheme. I was to run for the second tenure as chairman of my local government (Obio-Akpor),ÔÇØ Wike said.

"Now, they were having lunch with her husband and the former State party chairman then, Prince Uche Secondus. And, I was told that my name had been removed from the list. So, I ran down to Government House.

"She had finished her own lunch, left her husband and was entering the vehicle. I said 'Mummy, I'm finished.' She asked what happened; I said they have removed my name.

"She ran back straight to her husband and informed him. Her husband asked who removed my name. At that time, Secondus had left. The husband then called the security at the gate, they stopped Secondus and asked him to come back.

"That was how I went back as second term chairman. For me, I can't talk about my growth without mentioning her. If she was not around that day, to see the governor, you know, is not an easy thing. 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.