RIVERS DEPUTY GOVERNOR, ODU, WALKS TIGHT ROPE
RIVERS DEPUTY GOVERNOR, ODU, WALKS TIGHT ROPE When she was unveiled as the running mate to Siminialayi Fubara, the then governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, had dreamed of and prayed for two things; victory at the poll and a peaceful tenure as a deputy governor. Undoubtedly, Odu, born on October 23, 1952, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, has her first prayer granted. She excelled at the 2023 election with her boss. But, the same thing cannot be said about her request for a peaceful, crisis-free and fulfilled tenure. Odu, who obtained her first degree in Microbiology from the Paisley College of Technology, Renfrewshire, Scotland, the United Kingdom (UK), watched as the substructure of a once united political family built by a former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, began to collapse, following irreconcilable differences between Fubara and Wike, his erstwhile godfather. The same family nominated and worked for her to become deputy governor. Her choice was unanimous. She was singlehandedly picked by Wike through the recommendations of former Governor Peter Odili. Odili is a key figure in modern Rivers politics who supported Wike throughout his tenure as his political father. He has also often been referred to as the political godfather of Odu. While Wike solely nominated Fubara and made him governor, the former governor out of respect for Odili reportedly asked the latter to recommend Fubara’s deputy. Without hesitation, Odili was said to have chosen Prof. Odu. Odu, a refined international scholar and first PhD graduate at the Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, was brought into politics by Odili. Under the administration of Odili, Odu was a permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health between 1999 and 2006, making her the longest-serving permanent secretary. She also rose to become the Commissioner for Education in January 2006. The scholar, who led the rescue team of the December 2010 ill-fated Sosoliso crash in which only two people survived, owed her political loyalty to Odili. She was said to have developed a fondness for Wike, who used to pour encomiums on her publicly, especially during the campaigns. How has Odu faired amidst the political crisis in Rivers? A peep into her activities shows that the professor has been discharging the functions of her office diligently. The nature of her office and Odili’s position in the impasse have helped Odu to define her feelings. The office of a deputy governor has always been likened to a spare tyre. Just like her predecessor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, who is now the senator representing Rivers West, Odu has maintained a quiet mien. She has never made controversial political statements. Though she has maintained her loyalty to Fubara, she has never been heard casting aspersion on or verbally attacking Wike. She has meticulously attended all programmes of the governor that required her presence. She has also been representing the governor in various events. In her public speeches, Odu has shown her complete loyalty to Fubara as required by her office. Recently at the 2024 Rivers Economic Summit, Prof. Odu described Fubara, whom she fondly refers to as her boss as a leader with the ability to inspire, motivate and encourage people to bring out the best in them. She said: “We thank him for conceiving the idea of this summit. He is a man of courage; a man of focus and a man, who puts Rivers people first.” Similarly, when Prof. Odu received the Silverbird Man of the Year Award on behalf of Fubara, she wrote: “It was truly well-deserved for my boss to be recognized for his efforts in promoting peace and unity in our state. This award…
Dons Eze
