Reuben Abati, respected journalist, former presidential spokesperson, and co-host of Arise Television’s flagship programme *The Morning Show*, has publicly refuted claims made against him by Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
During a recent appearance on *The Morning Show*, Olayinka accused Abati of harboring bias against Wike and alleged that he was working in support of the former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi. Olayinka claimed Abati’s conduct on the show was unprofessional and called for him to resign, suggesting that he had assumed the role of Amaechi’s spokesperson.
More controversially, Olayinka alleged that Abati had previously approached Minister Wike for financial assistance and used the platform of Arise TV to push a personal agenda. He insinuated that Abati's absence from the show on the day of his appearance was intentional to avoid direct confrontation.
Responding to the allegations on Saturday through his verified social media accounts, Abati categorically denied all claims, stating that he had never solicited money from Wike and had no formal or informal relationship with Amaechi. He also clarified that his absence from the program was due to a prior intellectual engagement, not a deliberate avoidance.
“I was not absent from *The Morning Show* to dodge any confrontation,” Abati stated. “I had a long-standing engagement at the public review of Oprah Benson’s book *Live and Legend*, a 550-page publication written by Dr. Udu Yakubu. I honored that invitation because I value intellectual commitment.”
Abati declared that he had never, at any point, asked Wike for financial support. “That is completely false,” he emphasized. “If any former associate went behind my back to request money in my name, I disown that action entirely. I have never reached out to Minister Wike in that regard.”
He continued, “Furthermore, I am not affiliated with Rotimi Amaechi in any capacity. I do not have his contact information, and I am certainly not his spokesperson. Any claim suggesting otherwise is nothing but fiction.”
Abati went on to justify his past criticisms of Wike, noting that public officials are not beyond scrutiny. “My commentary is rooted in public behavior and political accountability. It is my duty as a journalist to ask questions, critique governance, and hold leaders to account,” he said.
He also touched on allegations once linked to the late Senator Buruji Kashamu, clarifying that such claims were unproven in court. Abati described repeated references to those allegations as ethically questionable and potentially defamatory.
In his closing remarks, Abati dismissed Olayinka's relevance in the matter. “I do not regard Mr. Olayinka as a peer or equal in any intellectual or professional discourse,” he concluded. “If Minister Wike feels the need to address this matter further, I would be willing to engage in a more meaningful and direct conversation with him.”