As the veracious wind of arrest of rapacious former governors blows mercilessly through the veins of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the fruited plains called Nigeria, I would like to issue a potent and most timely reminder to the Commission not to forget to arrest and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Otunaya Odili, for the same reasons it has arrested Kalu, Turaki, Dariye and Nnamani. Odili presents a classic case of a state governor who has done well to hide his level of graft, presenting to the public an enchanting alter boy disposition. But we should know that he remains one of the most corrupt ex-governors to have ever graced power, the grand marshal of sleaze.

He has indeed fooled many about his assiduous and sordid wont in pilfering the state. Odili ought to have been crowned with the arduous title of the Most Wasteful governor in the land. His case is a crying matter, for in eight years, he has nothing to show for his stewardship? What tangible achievements can be credited to him? What legacy trails him in Rivers beside the treacherous fact that he was the ember of discord in countless communal feuds, pitting one community after the other in his shameless wont to divide and rule. If Odili needs a reminder of what it means to leave behind a tangible legacy, he ought to look at his counterpart in Cross River State who achieved in two-terms far more than he can ever achieve in four terms. Donald Duke, in spite of his own faults, has written his name in the annals of Nigerian cultural history with his conception and actualization of TINAPA, the ultra-modern business resort center that has taken Africa by storm.

But Odili, visionless and uninspired, with a monthly allocation that far exceeded that received by Duke, could not manage any
sustainable development in the state to make his reign a meaningful and productive one, rather, he was engaged in frivolity and Owambe treatise that only served his penchant for flamboyancy and primitive disbursement of wealth; from giving the Ghanaian National Soccer team $25,000 in a losing effort to the Super Eagles in the 2001 World Cup qualifier played in Port-Harcourt, to splashing millions of naira on worthless ventures in the interest of garnering favor from certain sectors to the wasteful purchase of two planes worth $50 million collectively. Odili once gave the Muslim Community in Port-Harcourt N5 million to celebrate Salah without extending same largesse to Christians in their own celebration of Easter or Christmas. And why should state funds be given to religious groups irrespective of type of faith?  And talking about those planes, if one may now ask- where are they and who is using them now that he is no longer in power?  Have they followed him to his retirement home? In the lamest excuse heard so far, Odili, thinking the people of Rivers were all unschooled stated that the planes were meant to serve as air ambulances for the people of the state. Air ambulances to the hospital he built? Where are the road ambulances? It would have been better to state the truth and damn the consequences than pontificate such lies to the well-meaning people of Rivers.

In a most telling acrid indictment of Odili's wasteful endeavors, he shameless boasted to the nation that he left N5 billion in cash and N45 billion in investments for his successor, a claim yet to be independently verified. If true, we are forced to ask – Is that all? It should be noted well that this cash sum plus the said N45 billion in invisible investments, even to the casual observer of Rivers State politics, fails grossly in comparison to the sum of $12 billion (USD) received in eight years at the helm. In spite of this sum, Rivers State remains alarmingly underdeveloped. Port-Harcourt, the largest city in the Niger Delta, remains a ghost of its former glory. I am ashamed to say that even a non-indigene as former governor of the state, Police Commissioner Fidelis Oyakhilome, can be said to have outperformed Odili in the realms of cleanliness and orderliness of the city. Once noted as the Garden City, the proper appellate now ought to be "Garbage City" even after eight years of Odilism. The state of the roads is utterly pathetic, until today, those who call the riverine areas of the state home cannot boast of a road to travel to their villages, except by sea even after eight years and $12 billion USD at his disposal. If Port-Harcourt, the oil hub is so neglected, unplanned and chaotic, it would be unwise to discuss the fate of the rural communities during Odili's tenure.

While Odili neglected the real issues of development and advancement, he was obsessed with building a new Government House to ensure his and his family's comfort while majority of the state's citizens lived and still live in sub-standard housing that includes filthy aquatic residence for many. The cogent question remains – will the people of Rivers move into that new Government House? How does that add to the economic development of the state besides bloating the governor's ego showing off his new mansion to visiting governors and dignitaries from across the country? While he neglected the real issues plaguing the state, he was obsessed with garnering favor from judges (in the state) by buying each one of them a brand new BMW vehicle. Let's be reminded that his wife, Mary, was and still is a high court judge, thus, a beneficiary of the governor's largesse.

Perhaps, the real wastage of state funds came to the fore when Odili was deceived into believing that the presidency was his for the taking as promised to him by his deceitful master, Obasanjo. Somehow, they both deserved each other in their varied schemes of lies, fraud and deceit. If indeed, Odili had been imposed on Nigerians as Yar'Adua was, Nigeria would have in just two short months, been driven over the edge with his penchant for thievery and mismanagement. Nigerians ought to be grateful to their God for sparing them this menace in the person of Odili and in a rare concession should grant Obasanjo this accolade in sidestepping him. Anticipating a glorious day at Eagles Square in Abuja when he would be crowned President of Nigeria, Odili looted Rivers State treasury to satisfy his lust for power in the run-up to the PDP primaries in Abuja.

Without regards to the needs of the state, without regards to the welfare of workers and students alike, without regards to the nagging problem of insecurity in the state with incessant kidnappings, violent crimes including robberies, the philanthropic governor was handing bags of money worth N200, 000 each to the Emirs, Obas, Alafins, Alabos and other traditional rulers that shook his hand on the campaign trail. He was to ensure that when it came to the sham voting in the PDP primaries, he was the chosen one. We were told that as he headed for the PDP primaries, he ensured that there was enough money to dole out to all the delegates to seal his presidential ambition. Thus, tucked away safely on the governor's plane, one of those said to be an air ambulance, was the princely sum of N12 billion meant for the bribing and convincing the five thousand delegates to accord him the nod.

This utterly shameless wastage of the peoples' money was preceded by the white elephant project Odili called the "Gas Turbine" that gulped N40 billion of Rivers State money. Invariably, this turned out to be another convenient medium for Odili and his cronies to siphon Rivers State funds to buy and build hospitals in South Africa, to buy additional fleets of planes to fit his airlines, ARIK Air, which has been variously rumored to be owned by him and Obasanjo. It is a curious endeavor to learn that an Airline that was recently floated could purchase more than $2 billion worth of planes from Boeing, the American manufacturers, while well established and profitable airlines such as Delta, United Airlines, etc, cannot even afford half of such expenses. Indeed, we should note well that Rivers State funds have been used to fit ARIK Airlines as well as many other ventures yet to be reported.

The "Gas Turbine" project meant to check the erratic power supply in the state remains even today, a conduit to line the private pockets of Odili and his men. It is no wonder that the EFCC recently discovered the sum of N20 billion in the personal account of the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, who until recently, before the PDP victimized him, was the anointed successor in the long line of looters waiting to pounce on the state treasury. With such perturbing backdrop, the mind wonders why EFCC, in the grand scheme of things, is bothering with the likes of Nyame and Nnamani while a bigger fish swims free.

I say again, EFCC, don't forget Odili

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Author can be reached at alalibo@gmail.com. Article also published at http://www.newnigerianpolitics.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 As he veracious wind of arrest of rapacious former governors blows merciless...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 06.08.2007 15:45

Crisdels  Villager

# 2 Brother: A big celebration is going on in Abakiliki, Enugu, Awka, Owerri and Umuahia, because the EFCC loves them more than the rest of the other states in Nigeria. Even the elementary School students can pass tests in their civics to name the most corrupt governors in Nigeria. Answer: Governors Sam Egwu, Nnamani, Udenwa, Orji Kalu, "Obi". The South South states, and the South West are no-go areas. Very off limit to EFCC. So if your Rivers State and PortHarcourt are in any of the off limit zones, sorry, you lost out. God loves Ndiigbo so much he blessed them with priority to clensing. Visit Abia, the God's Own State and inquire about why God loves them more, and ask gov. Orji Uzor Kalu about his date with his father, God. Good Luck, (OMG, good luck - DYA!), and Bayelsa also? Posted by Crisdels| 06.08.2007 18:33

planet1899  Villager

# 3 The day of reckoning is coming for all these thives mentioned in the article. May their have the dame portion that have bequeathed to the masses. Amen. Planet 1899 Posted by planet1899| 06.08.2007 18:49

Ednut  Villager

# 4 B4 u pop the Palm Wine, read this from shahararepoters. BREAKING NEWS Presidency: EFCC can no longer prosecute ex-governors Mon 06th August, 2007 7:46:31 pm Author: Admin Sahara As earlier reported by Saharareporters, it is now official. The Presidency today announced that all cases of corruption initiated by the EFCC and ICPC will have to be prosecuted by the office of Attorney General and Minister of Justice. This was the outcome of series of meetings by the ex-governors led by Chief James Ibori with Umar Musa Yar'adua as reported by Saharareporters yesterday. Yar'adua is said to have assured Ibori of the decapitation of the EFCC as a "birthday gift", meanwhile Chief Ibori celebrated his birthday on Saturday. All the ex-governors were said to have jubilated over the decision of the federal government to take away prosecution powers from the EFCC and ICPC. "It is victory for their investments in the Yar'adua presidency" billowed a grossly disappointed Nigerian, Chris Eneh. Though the Presidency said the latest action was not intended to shield anyone, it runs counter to the past policy of the Federal government when the Attorney General and Minister of Justice would travel to the UK to depose to affidavits in support of the Metropolitan Police in London in their prosecution of former governors. It was the case with DSP Alamieyeseigha and Joseph Dariye. Chief Ibori and his ex-governors were busy celebrating the decision by Yar'adua in Edo State where a burial ceremony of another person was turned into his impromptu birthday bash last Saturday. Posted by Ednut| 06.08.2007 18:52

planet1899  Villager

# 5 What a shame...they would still pay for their crimes on earth or in the great beyond whichever comes first. That will be their portion. Planet 1899 Posted by planet1899| 06.08.2007 19:17

Son of the Delta  Villager

# 6 Odili has to be charged for the killings.Human life cannot be subsituted.Bring him to book for the killings in Rivers. Posted by Son of the Delta| 08.08.2007 08:45