The media aide to Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has asked Reuben Abati to resign from his role as TV host and resume work as Rotimi Amaechi’s spokesperson.
He recently criticized Reuben Abati for his attack against Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It all started when former Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, said that he is hungry like millions of Nigerians at an event organized to mark his 60th birthday.
According to Amaechi, with the help of the opposition, President Bola Tinubu can be removed from office in the 2027 election.
Reacting during a media chat on Monday, Wike took a swipe at Amaechi over the hunger remark, dismissing it as “politically motivated.”
Wike insisted that it is impossible for the ex-Governor to be hungry after 2 decades in various political positions.
The next day, Ruben Abati blasted Wike for criticizing Amaechi, saying that the FCT Minister shouldn’t be disrespectful to those who played crucial roles in his political career.
After realizing Abati, a co-host of the programme, was not in the studio for an interview on “The Morning Show,” Lere commended the management of Arise TV while claiming that the presenter was asked to excuse himself from the programme.
He accused Reuben Abati of being unprofessional by taking sides with Amaechi against Wike, stressing that he never expected him to show up after he decided to speak like Amaechi’s PA.
Wike’s media aide mentioned that he wouldn’t consider the interview a professional one if Ruben was the one asking the questions.
“Mr Reuben Abati is not here. I was not expecting him to be here because he took the position of special assistant on media to Rotimi Amaechi.
I was thinking that to be professional and operate normally, Reuben Abati would not be among persons who will sit in the studio to interview me.
Probably, he has been appointed as special assistant on media to Rotimi Amaechi because I watched him speaking here some days ago.
I was shocked to hear him turn himself into the spokesperson of Amaechi. I want to suggest that since he is spokesperson to Amaechi, he should excuse himself from Arise TV and go and do his job properly,” he said.
He further noted that Abati did not tag Wike rude and disrespectful when he sought the FCT minister’s assistance some years ago.
Meanwhile, during the programme, co-host Rufai Oseni countered Olayinka on his claims that Abati was asked to stay away from the show.
He immediately clarified that Reuben Abati had called in sick.
