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Dan Orbih Defied Pressure, Inducements To Make Me Rivers Governor – Wike
Dan Orbih Defied Pressure, Inducements To Make Me Rivers Governor – Wike
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FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has revealed that the late Daniel Orbih resisted intense political pressure and financial inducements to support his emergence as Rivers State governor in 2015.
Wike said Orbih, then PDP National Vice-Chairman, South South, stood firmly behind his gubernatorial ambition despite attempts by political opponents, including the then Rivers governor, to persuade him to withdraw his support.
The minister recalled that Orbih went beyond political backing by donating two bulletproof Mercedes-Benz buses and mobilising support across the South South during Wike’s campaign.
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Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Magnus Abe and other political figures also paid tribute to Orbih, describing him as a bridge-builder whose influence shaped political careers and strengthened democratic opposition in Edo State.
October 8, () – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed how the late National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South South, Chief Daniel Orbih, resisted intense political pressure and financial inducements to support his emergence as Governor of Rivers State in 2015.
Wike made the revelation on Wednesday in Abuja during a night of tributes held in honour of Orbih, who died on August 31 at the age of 64.
The FCT minister described Orbih, popularly known as Dan, as the political ally whom God used to clear the path for his emergence as Rivers governor, recalling the turbulent political atmosphere surrounding the 2015 governorship election.
“Today I am a Minister of the FCT; yesterday I was a governor. Who did God use for me to become governor? It was Dan”, Wike said.
He said his relationship with Orbih became particularly significant between 2013 and 2014, when his governorship ambition was facing intense opposition and political manoeuvring.
According to him, opponents mounted enormous pressure on Orbih, who occupied the strategic position of PDP National Vice-Chairman in the South South, in an attempt to force him to abandon Wike’s candidacy.
Wike said the pressure included attempts to financially induce the late politician, but Orbih remained resolute.
“There was nothing in this world that was not done to induce him. My governor then sent people to Dan, offered him everything in this world, but Dan stood firm and said, No, I will not accept, I will not agree”, he recalled.
Beyond publicly backing Wike, Orbih was said to have provided practical support for the campaign, including donating two bulletproof Mercedes-Benz buses to enhance Wike’s security and mobilising political structures across the South South.
Wike said Orbih’s loyalty was particularly remarkable because it was not motivated by personal benefits.
He disclosed that throughout his eight years as Rivers governor, Orbih never approached him personally or by telephone to demand a government contract, appointment or other favour.
“Dan is not a typical Nigerian politician. Throughout my eight years as governor, he never came for one day—either by phone or coming to my house to say, ‘I need this contract.’ Never”, Wike added.
The minister described such conduct as evidence of genuine friendship and political loyalty, saying Orbih’s commitment to relationships remained evident even during periods of intense political crisis.
“The only way I can identify a politician that is reliable is when that politician has stood in times of crisis. Loyalty, commitment to friendship, and being a brother’s keeper run in Dan’s family”, he stated.
Wike further argued that Orbih’s political influence went beyond his support for individual politicians, saying his position as PDP National Vice-Chairman helped protect the interests of the South South and created opportunities for several politicians who later became lawmakers at both the national and state levels.
He described Orbih as a politician with strategic foresight who helped lay the foundation for cross-party collaboration in Edo State and supported the political careers of many people without necessarily seeking personal rewards.
Daniel Osi Orbih
Calls For State Burial
Wike said Orbih’s contributions to the political development of Edo State were significant enough to warrant a state burial.
He urged political stakeholders in the state to honour the late politician appropriately, stressing that his impact on the political landscape deserved official recognition.
The FCT minister also pledged to maintain a close relationship with Orbih’s family and work with them and other stakeholders to preserve the late politician’s legacy.
‘Dan Introduced Me To Politics’ — Abe
The Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Senator Magnus Abe, also attributed his entry into Politics to Orbih.
Abe recalled that he served as the Director-General of Orbih’s first campaign when the deceased contested the governorship election on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party.
“I was the Director General of his first campaign in the United Nigeria Congress Party, when he ran for governor and I went everywhere in Edo with him”, Abe said.
Describing Orbih as “a bridge builder par excellence,” Abe said the gathering was not merely to mourn his death but to celebrate a life that had positively influenced numerous people.
“We are gathered here today not because Dan is dead. We are gathered because of the life that he lived and that life impacted all of us in so many different ways”, he noted.
Oshiomhole: Orbih Made Me A Better Governor
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North in the Senate and former Governor of Edo State, said Orbih’s political opposition made him a better governor.
Oshiomhole acknowledged that although he and Orbih had experienced political disagreements, the late politician’s criticisms and opposition forced him to subject his decisions to greater scrutiny.
“So my happiness today is that Dan and I, whatever our political differences we might have had, the truth is, Dan made me a better governor”, Oshiomhole stated.
He recalled that while in office, he would often consider how Orbih and the opposition would interpret a proposed government decision before proceeding with it.
“So, when I’m making a decision, the first thing I’ll ask is, ‘If this goes out today, what is Dan Orbih going to say?’ Each time I abstain from doing something because of what the opposition led by Dan will interpret to the people, before I do it will be better prepared”, he added.
Oshiomhole urged Orbih’s family to take solace in the fact that he dedicated his life to building bridges of unity and progress while remaining committed to his family and community.
He also credited Wike with helping to reconcile him with Orbih after a prolonged political disagreement.
According to him, it was at Wike’s residence in Port Harcourt that he and Orbih began rebuilding their relationship.
“It was right at Wike’s residence in Port Harcourt that Dan and I started hugging”, Oshiomhole stated.
‘A Defender Of Edo Heritage’
The PDP presidential candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, described Orbih as a “profound public intellectual, a quintessential lover of Edo people, a defender of Edo heritage, a Nigerian patriot and a social colossus.”
Onor also described him as a devoted family man, saying Orbih was “a great man by every measure, a true family man, a great husband, and a worthy father.”
Background
Daniel Orbih was a prominent Edo politician and a major figure within the PDP, particularly in the South South region. His political career spanned several decades and was marked by involvement in Edo’s political contests, party organisation and opposition Politics.
As PDP National Vice-Chairman, South South, Orbih occupied an influential position within the party and played a role in coordinating political interests across the region.
His death at 64 on August 31 has drawn tributes from political figures across party lines, with former associates and political opponents highlighting his loyalty, strategic political influence, capacity to build relationships and willingness to challenge those in power.
The tributes in Abuja also underscored the often-unrecognised influence of political actors who operate behind the scenes, with Wike’s account particularly portraying Orbih as a decisive figure whose support helped shape the political events that culminated in his emergence as Rivers State governor in 2015.