By: Manoah kikekon
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| Lere Olayinka and Reuben Abati |
A fresh war of words has erupted between Reuben Abati, a prominent media personality, and Nyesom Wike, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, after Abati labeled Wike as "rude and disrespectful."
The controversy deepened when Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, clapped back, accusing Abati of hypocrisy and reminding him of his past political alliance with a "fugitive."
The feud began after Wike, during a media chat, lashed out at his political rival and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, calling him a "power-hungry politician" . Amaechi had earlier criticized President Bola Tinubu, prompting Wike’s fiery response.
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Abati, while anchoring an Arise TV program, condemned Wike’s remarks, stating:
"I think that Nyesom Wike is very rude and disrespectful because Rotimi Amaechi is his boss in politics. When he was local government chairman, it was Amaechi who helped him get there.".
Lere Olayinka, Wike’s spokesperson, swiftly fired back on X (formerly Twitter), questioning Abati’s moral standing:
"The same Reuben Abati, who was comfortable being on a campaign podium as running mate to a fugitive wanted in America, will be forming moral police inside Arise TV studio." .
Olayinka further dismissed claims that Amaechi was Wike’s political mentor, arguing:
"When Amaechi was a House of Assembly member, Wike was a Local Government Chairman. When Amaechi ran to Ghana in 2007, Wike was in Nigeria, fighting to retrieve Amaechi’s mandate.".
Abati didn’t stop at criticizing Wike’s behavior he also issued a stark warning to President Bola Tinubu, suggesting that Wike could turn against him in the future:
"President Tinubu should beware because tomorrow, Wike will also insult him. He is only interested in his own permanent interests, not permanent friends." .