GOV AMAECHI AND PETER ODILI'S RECONCILIATION SENDS TONGUE WAGGING

Odili and Amaechi 

Dr Peter Odili, former Governor of Rivers State who was responsible for the political gansterism and bloodletting that coloured Rivers politics for eight years is back to PH after four years in exile and making peace with his boy, Amaechi, who is now Governor. The reunion was termed, a father and son reunion, considering  where their journey started from.

However, some indigenes of the state are still unhappy about the reunion. According to one of them, 'the mothers who lost their children in that carnage are still bleeding. Sometimes, life can be so unfair. Should the wicked go unpunished? Somebody please tell me..,'

An eye witness account states 'Indeed many present at the thanksgiving service at the Corpus Christi Cathedral were shocked when the officiating priest, Most Rev Dr Camillus  Etukudoh announced the presence of Odili and his wife, Mrs. Mary Odili (JSC) in the congregation among many others present to felicitate with the Amaechi’s on his re election.

Odili was decked in his traditional Rivers attire and the wife in suit in the front pew. Governor Amaechi who was also  in a white Rivers traditional outfit first shook hands warmly with his former boss before going to change into a flowing Okrika chieftaincy attire after which he came back to address the congregation. The governor expressed gratitude to his creator for his re election.

He said he was elated to be re united with his former boss. According to him, it was one of his requests before his creator that the reconciliation should be made possible before the expiration of his tenure.  He recalled effort made by some catholic priests and those around him to make the reconciliation a dream come true. He later had a long embrace with his former boss.

Some in the congregation apparently may have wondered why the governor had to go and change into an Okrika chieftaincy outfit before coming to speak to the church. According to his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr Blessing Wekina, the governor merely fulfilled a promise he made to the Okrikans when he celebrated his birthday in their midst on May 27, this year.  The Acting Chief Press Secretary said the governor had assured he would attend his swearing in ceremony inauguration in the attire they gave him during the birthday bash which symbolised the chieftaincy title they conferred on him.

As it stands, tongues are already wagging, with many already asking questions about the implications of of their reunion after four years.

Well, as they say, this is politics, and like they say, no permanent friend, no permanent enemy.