Oshiomhole challenges Abati to ‘street fight’ over ‘disrespectful’ comments

Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has challenged Arise TV anchor and former presidential spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, to a street fight over what he described as “disrespectful” and “mischievous” comments made on live television.

Oshiomhole issued the challenge on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Tuesday, while reacting to a recent episode of Arise TV’s The Morning Show. In that episode, Abati appeared to mock former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s defection to the APC by asking if he sought permission from Oshiomhole before being forgiven.

I was particularly shocked that a senior editor could ask the immediate past governor of Delta state, Okowa, mischievously, I must say, with all due respect, ‘did you get permission from Oshiomhole that your sins will now be forgiven before you decided to decamp to APC?’” Oshiomhole said.

Though he did not name Abati directly, Oshiomhole’s pointed references made the target clear.

“How can you ask that? What is my status? I am in the legislature. Is the legislature responsible for the prosecution of anyone wrong in any way?” Oshiomhole questioned.

He also accused the veteran broadcaster of harbouring personal grudges, referencing Abati’s arrest by the EFCC following his time as spokesperson to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The man who made that statement was at a time invited by the EFCC after he was Jonathan’s spokesman, shamelessly. Thereafter, EFCC arrested him. Was I the one who granted him bail to leave PDP to go where he is?” he asked.

Oshiomhole, a former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress and ex-governor of Edo State, further criticised Abati for omitting his contributions to labour movements, especially during May Day commemorations.

“Even on Labour Day, he was saying some labour leaders who had been involved in picketing and fought for workers; he could not even credit me with the fact that I led the protest. This is a guy who wrote ‘Oshiomhole the people’s president’ when I was president of the NLC. “Rather than crediting me with that, he said when they leave NLC, they now go and become governors,” he said.

The senator added, “If you are angry because you wanted to be a deputy governor and you lost an election in Ogun state, is that the reason you are paranoid, that every opportunity you want to abuse me? If you want to abuse me, don’t hide behind the TV; let’s meet in the street and fight it out.”

Abati ran as deputy governor alongside Buruji Kashamu in the 2019 Ogun governorship election under the PDP. They lost to APC candidate Dapo Abiodun.