Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, has asked President Bola Tinubu to be wary of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory
Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson, has asked President Bola Tinubu to be wary of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).
Abati criticised Wike for being disrespectful and rude to those who played a role in his political career.
During a media chat on Monday, Wike took a swipe at Amaechi over his recent comments on hunger, dismissing them as politically motivated.
The FCT minister said Amaechi could not have been hungry for food after twenty years in several political positions.
Reacting to Wike’s comment, Abati said Wike talks carelessly about his former political bosses, adding that the minister has a character flaw.
Making reference to dramaturgy, Abati said Wike possesses a “hubris” evident in the manner he speaks about his former bosses.
He added that the FCT minister had previously insulted Peter Odili, a former Rivers governor, who helped him become governor.
The former presidential spokesperson said the FCT minister is showing signs that he will soon use abusive words against Tinubu.
“There is a basic principle in human relationships about your relationship with your bosses,” he said.
“I think Nyesom Wike is very rude and disrespectful because Rotimi Amaechi is his boss in politics. When he (Wike) was LGA chairman, during Amaechi’s second term, it was Rotimi Amaechi that helped him to become LGA chairman.
“Subsequently, he became chief of staff to Rotimi Amaechi. It was Amaechi who recommended him to become minister of state for education. He talks carelessly about his former bosses. I think he is disrespectful. This speaks to his character. Still talking about his hubris, he has abused Sir Peter Odili, an elder statesman. He had said publicly that Peter Odili does not qualify to be an elder. This was the same man that he was taken to by Dr Patience Jonathan to help him become governor. There is no name he has not called Dr Peter Odili and his wife.
“He referred to Chief Olabode George as a ground rent debtor. Who will Nyesom Wike not insult? He has shown signs that he is also going to insult President Bola Tinubu.
“In that interview, he pointed out that if he had known that President Tinubu was going to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, he would have offered a different kind of advice. That is already a signal to President Tinubu to know that this man you are dealing with, his only interested is his own interests. President Tinubu should beware. Tomorrow he will abuse this same President Tinubu.”
Odili was governor of Rivers from May 1999 to May 2007.
Amaechi governed the state from October 2007 to May 2015.
When Amaechi was Rivers governor, Wike was his chief of staff from 2007 to 2011. After Wike’s tenure as a chief of staff, he was appointed as a minister of state for education.
Wike then succeeded Amaechi as governor of Rivers state in 2015. Their relationship has been frosty since 2014.
