Peter Odili
Encyclopedia
Peter Otunuya Odili was the thirteenth Governor of Rivers State
in Nigeria
from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
Local Government Area of Rivers State. He graduated from the Medical School of the University of Nigeria
, Nsukka, and pursued post-graduate work in Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool
in the United Kingdom
.
Dr. Peter Odili is married to Justice Mary Okaego Odili (b. 12 May 1952).
In 1988/89, Peter Odili was elected member and leader of Rivers State Delegates to the Constituent Assembly.
In 1992, he was elected as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State. After the Nigerian Third Republic
ended, he was again elected to the National Constitutional Conference and became the Conference Committee Chairman on State Creation. Dr. Odili thereafter became the National Secretary of the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN).
In September 2004, Amnesty International
wrote an open letter to Peter Odili expressing deep concerns for protection of human rights of civilians in and around Port Harcourt, detailing an increasingly alarming security situation in Rivers State, due to fighting allegedly between rival armed groups.
In December 2004, a gang of armed youths believed to be members of the Egbesu cult attacked Peter Odili's convoy along the East-West Road in Port Harcourt.killing two people one a policeman
In March 2009, the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Kayode Eso, blamed the crisis during Odili's period of office on both the state and the Federal Governments, particularly the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The report outlined interwoven problems of failed governance, chieftaincy tussles, cultism, politics of acrimony and insurgency.
During his governorship Rivers State was in theory one of the wealthiest region in the country i.e. [Lagos state, Delta state and Rivers State, due to oil and other business infrastructure, but Odili instituted relatively few improvements.
In January 2007, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) under Nuhu Ribadu
issued an interim report on the governor that pointed to severe implications of fraud, conspiracy, conversion of public funds, foreign exchange malpractice, money laundering, stealing and abuse of oath of office.
At around the same time Human Rights Watch
issued a report detailing pervasive patterns of corruption and mismanagement at the state and local levels under Odili's administration.
In February 2007, Odili filed a suit challenging the powers of the EFCC to probe his administration in Rivers State.
In November 2006 Peter Odili announced that he would run for president in the 2007 election under the ruling PDP.
However a day before the PDP's presidential primaries held on December 16, 2006, Odili stepped down from the contest, paving the way for fellow governor Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
to emerge as the party's flag bearer.
As of December 2007, the office of Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa
had refused to file any defense in court against Odili's claim that the EFCC was not authorized to investigate his administration.
In March 2008, a Port Harcourt court ruled that the EFCC could not investigate state finances.
In September 2009, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja
issued an interim injunction stopping the EFCC from arresting, detaining, prosecuting or embarrassing Peter Odili over a N189m bank debt.
However, a few days later the EFCC summoned Dr Peter Odili over alleged debts owed to five banks whose Managing Directors and board had recently been removed by the Central Bank of Nigeria
.
In December 2009, the New York Times published an article about the kidnapping industry in Africa. The author talked to a man called Adiele Nwaeze (a professional kidnapper), who accused Odili of having paid him to help rig an election ten years ago by robbing ballot boxes. Odili denied the accusation.
In September 2010 it was reported that former military head of state Ibrahim Babangida
, who planned to be a candidate for president in the 2011 election, was in discussions with Odili over being his running mate as vice-presidential candidate.
The choice was said to be due in part to a close relationship between Odili and Raymond Dokpesi, the director general of Babangida's campaign.
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
Background
Peter Odili was born on 15 August 1948 in the Ogba/Egbema/NdoniOgba/Egbema/Ndoni
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni is a Local Government Area of Rivers State in Nigeria, with its capital at Omoku. It is part of the Ogba / Ebgema / Ndoni / Ahoada West constituency of the Nigerian House of Representatives....
Local Government Area of Rivers State. He graduated from the Medical School of the University of Nigeria
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has four campuses – Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla – located in Enugu State and one in Aba, Abia...
, Nsukka, and pursued post-graduate work in Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Dr. Peter Odili is married to Justice Mary Okaego Odili (b. 12 May 1952).
In 1988/89, Peter Odili was elected member and leader of Rivers State Delegates to the Constituent Assembly.
In 1992, he was elected as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State. After the Nigerian Third Republic
Nigerian Third Republic
The Third Republic was the planned republican government of Nigeria in 1993 which was to be governed by the Third Republican constitution.- Founding :...
ended, he was again elected to the National Constitutional Conference and became the Conference Committee Chairman on State Creation. Dr. Odili thereafter became the National Secretary of the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN).
Governorship
Peter Odili was elected governor of Rivers State in April 1999, and was reelected in April 2003.In September 2004, Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
wrote an open letter to Peter Odili expressing deep concerns for protection of human rights of civilians in and around Port Harcourt, detailing an increasingly alarming security situation in Rivers State, due to fighting allegedly between rival armed groups.
In December 2004, a gang of armed youths believed to be members of the Egbesu cult attacked Peter Odili's convoy along the East-West Road in Port Harcourt.killing two people one a policeman
In March 2009, the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Kayode Eso, blamed the crisis during Odili's period of office on both the state and the Federal Governments, particularly the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The report outlined interwoven problems of failed governance, chieftaincy tussles, cultism, politics of acrimony and insurgency.
During his governorship Rivers State was in theory one of the wealthiest region in the country i.e. [Lagos state, Delta state and Rivers State, due to oil and other business infrastructure, but Odili instituted relatively few improvements.
In January 2007, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes such as advance fee fraud and money laundering...
(EFCC) under Nuhu Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a former Nigerian government anti-corruption official. He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud...
issued an interim report on the governor that pointed to severe implications of fraud, conspiracy, conversion of public funds, foreign exchange malpractice, money laundering, stealing and abuse of oath of office.
At around the same time Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
issued a report detailing pervasive patterns of corruption and mismanagement at the state and local levels under Odili's administration.
In February 2007, Odili filed a suit challenging the powers of the EFCC to probe his administration in Rivers State.
In November 2006 Peter Odili announced that he would run for president in the 2007 election under the ruling PDP.
However a day before the PDP's presidential primaries held on December 16, 2006, Odili stepped down from the contest, paving the way for fellow governor Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was the President of Nigeria and the 13th Head of State. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 28 May 2007. He was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May...
to emerge as the party's flag bearer.
Later career
In June 2008, Peter Odili defended his record before the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission, denying the charges that had been made against him.As of December 2007, the office of Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa
Michael Aondoakaa
Michael Kaase Aondoakaa was Nigeria's justice minister from July 2007 to 10 February 2010.-Background:Michael Kaase Aondoakaa was born in Benue on 12 June 1962. He attended the University of Maiduguri, where he studied law...
had refused to file any defense in court against Odili's claim that the EFCC was not authorized to investigate his administration.
In March 2008, a Port Harcourt court ruled that the EFCC could not investigate state finances.
In September 2009, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
issued an interim injunction stopping the EFCC from arresting, detaining, prosecuting or embarrassing Peter Odili over a N189m bank debt.
However, a few days later the EFCC summoned Dr Peter Odili over alleged debts owed to five banks whose Managing Directors and board had recently been removed by the Central Bank of Nigeria
Central Bank of Nigeria
The Central Bank of Nigeria was established by the CBN Act of 1958 and commenced operations on July 1, 1959.The major regulatory objectives of the bank as stated in the CBN act of 1958 is to: issue legal tender, maintain the external reserves of the country, promote monetary stability and a sound...
.
In December 2009, the New York Times published an article about the kidnapping industry in Africa. The author talked to a man called Adiele Nwaeze (a professional kidnapper), who accused Odili of having paid him to help rig an election ten years ago by robbing ballot boxes. Odili denied the accusation.
In September 2010 it was reported that former military head of state Ibrahim Babangida
Ibrahim Babangida
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida CFR DSS mni , popularly known as IBB, was a Nigerian Army officer and military ruler of Nigeria...
, who planned to be a candidate for president in the 2011 election, was in discussions with Odili over being his running mate as vice-presidential candidate.
The choice was said to be due in part to a close relationship between Odili and Raymond Dokpesi, the director general of Babangida's campaign.