Reuben Abati, former presidential spokesperson and current television anchor with Arise News, has taken a swipe at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, describing him as a rude and disrespectful politician with a history of turning against his benefactors.
Abati’s comments follow Wike’s fresh jab at former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, whom he accused of being power-hungry. “Now that they are out of power, they say they are hungry. It’s not hunger for food. It’s hunger for power,” Wike had said during a media parley on Monday.
Responding during a Tuesday morning broadcast on Arise TV, Abati said Wike’s remarks showed a pattern of political ingratitude.
“I think that Nyesom Wike is very rude and disrespectful because Rotimi Amaechi is his boss in politics,” Abati said.
“When he was local government chairman or was it councillor during Amaechi’s second term, it was Rotimi Amaechi that helped him to become local government chairman.”
He also recalled how Wike had previously attacked another Rivers elder, Peter Odili.
“There is no time he has not insulted Peter Odili. He even referred to him as one man and his wife as one woman.”
Abati didn’t stop there. He warned President Bola Tinubu to tread carefully in his relationship with Wike, suggesting that the minister’s loyalty is fleeting.
“Who will Nyesom Wike not insult? He insulted Senator John Mbata, who was his godfather at some point. He also showed signs that he will insult President Bola Tinubu.
“He pointed out that if he had known that President Tinubu would declare a state of emergency in Rivers, he would have offered a different kind of advice.
“That is already a signal to Tinubu that this man you are dealing with is only interested in his own permanent interests, not permanent friends. President Tinubu should beware because tomorrow he will also abuse this same President Tinubu.”
