Table of Contents
Lere Olayinka, the media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticized Arise TV host Reuben Abati for his comments questioning why he would kneel to serve his "master."
During Arise TV’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Abati took aim at Lere, comparing his allegiance to Wike to the alleged sycophantic behavior displayed by some appointees of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He remarked, “The most notable moment was when our good friend, Lere Olayinka, knelt down attempting to serve his master. What is all this?”
“Look, during our time in government, sycophancy was a common practice, both then and now, within the Nigerian government. When individuals knelt before President Jonathan, he would tell them to stand up.”
“In fact, I witnessed people crawling. This is how they acted. However, Lere Olayinka seems to understand the dynamics better than some of us, so he will kneel and serve his master. There is a limit to all of this.”
In response, Lere posted on Facebook, stating that Jonathan suffered from negative media coverage due to Abati’s lack of focus during his tenure as Media Adviser to the former president.
He wrote, “I appreciate you making me a topic on Arise News this morning. Please continue discussing this until the end of January 2026.”
“However, I have to say, if you had been as dedicated to your role as President Jonathan’s Media Adviser, with the same intensity you currently have regarding anything Wike, you would not have failed to adequately defend him against the negative press he faced as President.”
“I also hope you are less greedy now. That greed, which caused one of your associates to abscond with millions of naira intended for your office operations, was due to your desire to keep your SSAs and SAs unaware of your running grant.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Reuben Abati say about Lere Olayinka?
Reuben Abati criticized Lere Olayinka for kneeling to serve Nyesom Wike, comparing his actions to the sycophancy seen in the past with former President Goodluck Jonathan.
How did Lere Olayinka respond to Abati's remarks?
Lere Olayinka responded on Facebook, stating that Abati's lack of focus as Media Adviser contributed to the negative press faced by Jonathan, and he challenged Abati's current fixation on Wike.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
