The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed his disappointment in Arise Television co-host Dr Reuben Abati over his criticisms of Wike’s statements.

In response to the feud in Rivers State involving the immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike, former Governor Peter Odili, and incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Dr Abati bemoaned the lack of character and integrity exhibited by the FCT Minister.

Dr Abati, speaking on the Arise TV Morning Show, slammed Wike for his remarks about Odili, whom he once called his father when seeking power. He questioned Wike’s disloyalty towards his predecessor and his boast about building a house for him, an act he found distasteful.

The media personality also warned President Bola Tinubu to be cautious of Wike following his falling out with those who helped him gain political relevance.

Dr Abati said, “This is a thing about character in politics. One of the concerns of average Nigerians about politicians is that most of them lack character and integrity, and that is why loyalty is a very big issue in Nigerian politics. Dr Peter Odili has had his fair share of disloyalty from many of the young men that he groomed. Nyesom Wike is not the only one that has betrayed him but he keeps his position as an elderstateman not just in Rivers State politics but also in Nigeria.

What has triggered this? Sir Peter Odili supporting the governor of the state, Fubara and making a statement that people have tried to turn Rivers State into their personal estate. Only for Leri Olayinka, his spokesman, to Wike himself to go after a man he once called his father and his wife, my mother. To abuse him and say he is the one who made him politically relevant in Rivers State politics.

When Dr Peter Odili was Governor of Rivers State, where was Nyesom Wike, the man that made him get the opportunity for a second term as local government chairman, the man that also facilitated his emergence as governor of Rivers State when he showed interest, the man that was taken to his godfather by the then former First Lady Patience Jonathan, to say this is your son, I hand him over to you.

Now, they have a father-son relationship, but now today, Nyesom Wike says, ‘I built a house for him, I called Julius Berger to build a house. Inside the Odili home, my pictures were put everywhere, including the bathroom, now, he has removed my photographs.’ I mean, what kind of a man says that in the public domain? He is also accusing Dr Peter Odili of making his daughter commissioner. There is something called decorum in politics, I think this falls short in terms of decorum and you are absolutely correct. The president today, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who says that Wike is a good man, I hope somebody will bring all these videos to his attention for him to indeed know the true character of the man he is dealing with. There must be a limit to which people go. But some people apparently have no limit, shame, they do not respect anybody, they get intoxicated with power. But the reminder is that power is transient.”

Wike, in response, clapped back at Dr Abati over his criticisms. While speaking at the New Year Luncheon, he described Dr Abati as a failure.

He stated that Dr Abati, who claims to be a first-class degree holder, has failed to use his knowledge in the interest of society, having failed woefully in his effort to emerge as deputy governor of Ogun State.

The Minister said, “When you talk about Arise Television, you talk about Reuben, I was a Minister, you say you’re a first class, I have no problem, to God be the glory, but use it for the interest of the society. Don’t be a first-class holder that will make ridicule on the issue of first class. The only person you can pick on is me and you got the result you got. I was not there. If I say now how I saved him, they will say, anytime he helps people he says.

People have no shame. You say you are showing on Arise. If anybody knows me, I don’t even hear them. This day I don’t. I saw them put my name as World Ministerial Nominee. What concerns me?

So Reuben Abati, who now said he has been hired to do the job, to say I said, I will not make them cry. But if my father is saying something wrong? I don’t think that is the level of a first-class degree holder.

Some of you always call me and say, see what Reuben is saying, why are you always worrying yourself? You’re increasing the allowance of whatever he is giving when you talk about him. Don’t do that.

I ran for election for local government in 1999, down to today, I’ve never lost an election. And there is nobody whom I support has lost an election. Reuben contested election as deputy governor of Ogun State the first time, he failed and failed woefully. Not as governor, but deputy.”

Watch Wike's response