By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Governor Nyesom Wike on Saturday condemns the selection of the Udi Odum who was sworn in as Minister of State for Environment by President Muhammadu Buhari last Wednesday as representative of Rivers State in the Federal Executive Council.
Wike who spoke for first time about the new minister appointed by President Buhari to replace former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who resigned as Minister of Transportation, to contest for the presidential ticket of the ruling party.
The Governor described Odum’s appointment as an aberration, claiming that he did not have the requisite intellectual acumen to represent the State as a Minister in the Federal Executive Council.
Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant Media to Governor Wike, quoted his boss as describing the appointment of Odum as an embarrassment to the state, while swearing in his five newly appointed Commissioners on Saturday.
“I have never seen an embarrassment like that in my life. Yes, you must appoint those who are loyal, but educated people are also loyal. It has never happened in our State. Everything cannot be politics. The image of the State is key.”
However, findings by our Correspondent show that Udi Odum first came into public life as Chairman of Abua/Odual local government area in 2003.
After a one-year as Chairman, he gained admission into the University of Port Harcourt to study Management.
In 2008, he was again elected chairman of Abua/Odual LGA.
In 2009, he graduated from the University of Port Harcourt with a Bachelor’s degree in Management Sciences. He continued his studies.
In recognition of his exemplary services, the state decorated him as the Best-Performing local Government Chairman in 2008/2009.
Odum Udi in 2012, earned a postgraduate diploma in Management.