Reuben Abati, former presidential spokesperson and co-host of Arise TV’s The Morning Show, has denied claims made by Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, that he and his wife once solicited financial assistance from the minister.
He also denied the allegations which have been circulating in the media.
On Friday’s show, Olayinka accused Abati of being a supporter of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
According to him, Abati’s absence from the program on Friday was not accidental but a decision by management due to his alleged bias.
However, co-host Rufai Oseni disagreed with this claim and explained the actual reason for Abati’s absence.
He also stated that Abati and his wife were among those who had solicited financial help from Wike, a claim that Abati, however, has firmly denied.
“I have never approached Minister Nyesom Wike to beg for money. That is a lie. If anyone including an ex-partner went to him under false pretences to solicit funds in my name, I place a clear disclaimer,”; the statement reads.
“Such actions were not authorised by me, and Minister Wike reserves every right to call it out as fraud.
Abati denied being politically intertwined with Amaechi.
“I am not Rotimi Amaechi’s spokesperson, nor do I have his phone number. That’s a fabrication.
“I was not absent from The Morning Show on Friday to avoid any discussion. I was engaged at a pre-scheduled book review for “Oprah Benson Live and Legend”;, a 550-page publication by Dr. Udu Yakubu. It was an honourable intellectual commitment.
Abati described Olayinka’s comments asking him to resign from his media office and become the spokesperson for Amaechi as inappropriate.
“I stand firmly by everything I said regarding Minister Wike. He is a public official occupying a public office. He is, and should remain, subject to public scrutiny. Nobody in public service is above accountability.”;
