NIGERIA: Reuben Abati Denies Begging Wike For Money, Sets Record Straight

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Veteran journalist and broadcaster, Reuben Abati, has responded to comments made by Lere Olayinka during a recent appearance on Arise News’ The Morning Show.

Olayinka who is a Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused the TV host of acting as a spokesman for former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi governed Rivers State for eight years.

Olayinka made the allegation on Thursday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show.

His comments follow Abati’s reported use of unflattering words to describe Minister Wike on the same programme.

Olayinka also claimed that Abati and his wife once visited Wike’s residence to seek financial help.

He alleged that the visit happened during Abati’s encounter with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over funds linked to former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Abati, in a statement released via his official Facebook page earlier today, dismissed several claims made by Olayinka, calling them false and misleading.

He denied ever approaching the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to solicit funds.

According to him, any individual claiming to have done so on his behalf did so without his knowledge or consent.

Abati described such an act as fraudulent and stressed that Minister Wike would be within his rights to call it out.

He also addressed his previous invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, stating that it was strictly a procedural engagement. He emphasized that he was never asked to return any money and was later issued an apology by the EFCC under the leadership of former Chairman Ibrahim Magu.

Reacting to Olayinka’s criticism of his use of the word “hubris,” Abati described the remark as a misuse of vocabulary and dismissed it as unworthy of serious engagement. He stated that he has no interest in responding to Olayinka directly, referring instead to Olayinka’s principal as the proper subject of any serious discourse.

Abati further clarified that he is not and has never been a spokesperson for former Minister Rotimi Amaechi. He added that he does not even have Amaechi’s phone number and dismissed the claim as a fabrication.

He explained his absence from Friday’s broadcast of The Morning Show was due to a pre-scheduled commitment. According to him, he was attending the review of a 550-page biography titled Oprah Benson – Live and Legend, written by Dr. Udu Yakubu.

Abati stood by his earlier remarks about Minister Wike, stating that as a public official, Wike remains subject to public accountability and criticism.

He also addressed the reference to late politician Buruji Kashamu, noting that no court ever found him guilty of any crime. Abati condemned the continued use of unproven allegations against the deceased, describing it as unethical and in poor taste.

In his closing remarks, he thanked his team members at Arise News and expressed gratitude to his wife, Kikelomo Atanda-Owo Abati, for her unwavering support.

He ended the statement with a call for integrity and boldness in Nigeria’s public discourse.