Ohanaeze president to Wike: Rivers not your property, we’ll resist you in 2027

John Azuta-Mbata, president-general of Ohanaeze NdigboWorldwide, has ramped up his criticism of Nyesom Wike, minister of the FederalCapital Territory (FCT). Wike has repeatedly aimed thinly veiled jabs at SiminalayiFubara following the Rivers governor’s defection from the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The minister reportedly opposed Fubara’s move, particularlyafter the political structure of the PDP in Rivers aligned with that of theruling APC at the centre. Wike recently said he would soon reveal the full details ofthe peace accord he reached with Fubara. In June, President Bola Tinubu facilitated a detente betweenWike and Fubara in a bid to halt the lingering crisis in the state. Wike accused the governor of breaching the agreed terms andurged the people of Tai LGA in Rivers to be wary of individuals who dishonouragreements. On Tuesday, Wike said the leadership mistake in Rivers willbe corrected in 2027. The minister, in an indirect jab at Fubara, insisted thatleaders must prioritise public interest above personal ambition. ‘LOCAL CHAMPION’ However, Azuta-Mbata, an ex-senator who represented Riverseast in the upper legislative chamber, countered the FCT minister, insistingthat “there is only one governor in Rivers state”. “There is only one governor in Rivers state, whether youlike it oo, you don’t like it oo. If you like, shout from now till tomorrow,”he said to the applause of his audience. On Wednesday, Wike reacted, describing Mbata as a localpolitician who had nothing to show despite spending eight years in the senate. “Yesterday, I was watching television. I heard somebody whowas a senator, who is supposed to be talking about state politics, nationalpolitics, but he is playing community politics, endorsing someone in hiscommunity, which is not even a ward, senator for 8 years, but there is nothingyou can say you did for your people,” Wike said. “When my predecessor was in office, people were so much in contracts, the government was in power, and the person was there, we defeated them. “Immediately my predecessor left, I came, he was also there,now I have left and he is also there, any government in power... people don’thave integrity, nobody can think he will use us, and after agree something, youwill renege on. “You think you are a smart politician, that you are cleverby half. “Very soon, we will let the people of Rivers know what weagreed on before Mr President. If you can renege on what we agreed with thepresident, then who are we?” ‘WE’LL RESIST YOU’However, in a viral video, Mbata fired back, accusing Wikeof lacking composure and questioning his intellect and public conduct. “One of the signs of very poor education and upbringing isthat you can’t even pronounce simple words. What’s the meaning of ‘inteegreety?Inteegreety... inteegreety’?” he asked. “Can somebody tell this semi-illiterate, swashbuckling,crisis-loving gentleman that Rivers state belongs to all of us, not him alone? “And we will resist you. You won’t get away with all thisnonsense you’re doing. “You think because nobody is talking, you can do anything?” Rivers state was embroiled in crisis for much of 2025 due tothe political rift between Fubara and Wike. The crisis culminated in a declaration of emergency rule inthe oil-rich state, which was lifted in September.

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