Reuben Abati, veteran journalist and former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has lambasted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying he lacks the moral standing to question the character of other political leaders.
Abati, who is the lead anchor of Arise Television’s Morning Show, stated this on Tuesday while reacting to Wike’s recent remarks dismissing the possibility of Peter Obi returning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and advising Jonathan against contesting the 2027 presidential election.
According to Abati, Wike should reflect on his own political record instead of disparaging others.
“Wike is not in a position to talk about character. In fact, if he talks about character, he should question his own character,” Abati said.
He argued that Wike himself contributed significantly to the crisis within the PDP.
“In fact, it is Wike himself that destroyed the party. Who is he to determine the destiny of the PDP when he is already in another political party?” Abati asked.
The journalist also criticized the media for consistently providing Wike a platform to attack political opponents.
“I blame the media. The media gives him platform to disparage other political opponents… If he’s talking about the FCT, yes, fine. But if it’s about disparaging others, then the media has an obligation to give those attacked a right of reply,” Abati maintained.
He further accused sections of the press of pandering to Wike for monetary reasons, adding that the minister was “overreaching himself” by making sweeping comments on national figures such as Obi, Jonathan, and Nasir El-Rufai.
