CITIZENS COMPASS— The crisis between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his political godfather, Azuta Mbata, got messier yesterday, with verbal attacks.
Mbata, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide had reportedly referred to the minister as a “half-illiterate” and someone who was washing his car.
Mbata’s outbursts followed Wike’s condemnation of his recent support for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike fired back during his “thank-you” tour at Abua-Odual Local Government Area.
Though he did not mention Mbata’s name but from his body language, one could easily deduce who the attack was meant for.
According to Wike, “Ask me what I did as council chairman. Ask me what I did as governor. Ask me what I am doing now as minister. “When I was signing contracts for their company, nobody complained that I was illiterate. If you like, abuse me.
“You say you were a senator—tell your people what you did for them.
“Every governor that comes to power, you are there,”
“So many people do not know my relationship with you (Mbata). But those who are very close and know about my political career, they know that my first shot in public office was sponsored by you for me to be council chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government.
“I started making money as a lawyer preparing all the estate documents for you. So, I have made money through you before I became council chairman through preparation of land documents.”
Mbata was a two-term senator during the Pius Anyim and Adolphus Wabara Senate eras.
He was said to be instrumental to Wike’s emergence as chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government in 1998.
