Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has given the federal government a 48-hour ultimatum to unmask those behind the invasion of the Abuja residence of the former Governor, Peter Odili, and his wife, Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday alongside leaders of thought from the state, Wike argued that it was insufficient for the federal government and its officials, particularly the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to merely deny their involvement in the invasion.
“The onus is on the federal government to come out and prove that they are not involved because mere denial is not enough, we are giving them 48 hours to unmask those behind the invasion and tell the world what they have done,” Wike said.
Asked what action they intend to take if their demand was not met at the end of the ultimatum, Wike said: “Let the ultimatum end first.”
He said it was not a mere coincidence that after participating in the Bayelsa state election panel, some people entered Justice Odili’s house, but the government kept quiet while her husband and former governor Peter Odili’s passport was also seized on his return from abroad.
Describing the incident as an attempt on the lives of the ex-governor, his wife and other members of his family, he warned that his state and its people would hold the Federal Government responsible should anything untoward happen to any member of the family.
He said as a responsible government it ought not to have taken 24 hours for it to tell Nigerians what actually happened, since the names of the police officer, the supposed whistleblower, the Chief Magistrate and other key players in the sad episode were already in the public domain.
Also at the gathering were Rivers members of the National Assembly, House of Assembly members, and local government chairmen, among others.
While commending the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its prompt reaction on the matter, Wike urged the body to take further steps to see to the end of the matter.
