A fresh political storm is brewing in Rivers State as Senator John Azuta Mbata has launched a blistering response to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following recent comments made against him during Wike’s tour of local government areas in the state.
The war of words escalated after the former governor of Rivers State, publicly criticized Mbata, accusing the senator of achieving little or nothing during his years in the National Assembly.
In a strongly worded video message circulating widely on social media, Senator Mbata accused Wike of arrogance and attempting to portray himself as the owner of Rivers State. According to Mbata, Wike’s confrontational style has persisted because many political actors have chosen to remain silent.
Mbata warned that such silence should not be mistaken for weakness, declaring that the people of Rivers State would resist what he described as political intimidation and verbal attacks.
“You are behaving as if you own Rivers State because people have kept quiet,” Mbata said in the video. “But you should know that Rivers people are not afraid.”
In one of the most controversial portions of his response, Mbata reminded Wike of their past relationship, claiming that the FCT minister had once depended on him for personal support.
“You have forgotten the days when you used to wash my car,” Mbata stated, a comment that has since sparked intense debate and reactions across political and social circles.
The senator went further to describe Wike as a “semi-illiterate” and a “crisis-loving gentleman,” alleging that he personally supported Wike’s early life by paying his school fees and providing food from his household to ensure he received an education.
Mbata argued that Wike’s political rise should have been marked by humility rather than hostility, insisting that personal history should encourage restraint rather than public ridicule.
