Oshiomhole Slams Abati, Dares Him To Street Fight Over Okowa Comment
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has dared veteran broadcaster Dr. Reuben Abati to a street fight, accusing him of constantly using television platforms to throw disrespectful jabs.
The fiery outburst came during Oshiomhole’s appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Tuesday.
The former Edo State governor was reacting to a recent comment made by Abati on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, where Abati mocked Ifeanyi Okowa’s defection to the APC.
“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 made no attempt to hide who the statement was directed at, even though he did not mention Abati by name.
“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?”
He accused Abati of nursing long-standing grudges and took a swipe at his past encounter with the EFCC.
“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?”
Oshiomhole also expressed disappointment that his contributions to the labour movement were being erased or deliberately ignored, especially during Workers’ Day commentary.
“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.”
The senator concluded with a bold challenge, daring Abati to step out from behind the camera.
“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, who served as spokesperson to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State in 2019.
He ran alongside the late Buruji Kashamu and lost to Governor Dapo Abiodun of the APC.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
