ABUJA, Nigeria — Lere Olayinka, media aide to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called for the resignation of Arise Television host Reuben Abati, accusing him of partisan bias in favour of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Olayinka made the remarks on Friday, June 6, 2025, during a live appearance on The Morning Show, the flagship breakfast programme of Arise Television.
Abati, a former presidential spokesperson and regular co-host of the show, was not present in the studio at the time.
“Mr Reuben Abati is not here. I was not expecting him to be here because he took the position of special assistant on media to Rotimi Amaechi,” Olayinka said on air.
“I was shocked to hear him turn himself into the spokesperson of Amaechi. I want to suggest that since he is spokesperson to Amaechi, he should excuse himself from Arise TV and go and do his job properly.”
Olayinka’s comments came in response to Abati’s sharp criticism of Wike earlier in the week, during which he accused the FCT Minister of being “disrespectful and rude” towards Amaechi.
Abati had made the remarks while discussing Wike’s response to Amaechi’s comment that he was “hungry” — a statement the former Rivers State Governor made at an event marking his 60th birthday.
In the original remark, Amaechi said: “I am hungry. And like millions of Nigerians, I am not ashamed to say it.”
Wike, in a subsequent media interview on Monday, June 2, 2025, dismissed Amaechi’s claim as “politically motivated,” arguing that a man who had held political office for over two decades could not credibly speak of hunger.
“It’s all politics,” Wike said.
The exchange prompted Abati to criticise Wike on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, framing the Minister’s comments as unnecessarily confrontational toward a political figure who had once supported his rise.
Olayinka, in turn, alleged that Abati’s critique was tainted by personal bias.
“To be professional and operate normally, Reuben Abati would not be among persons who will sit in the studio to interview me,” he said.
He also accused Abati of hypocrisy.
“He did not consider Wike rude and disrespectful when he sought his assistance some years ago,” Olayinka claimed, without providing specific details.
Rufai Oseni, a co-host of the programme, swiftly rebutted Olayinka’s implication that Abati had been asked to leave the show.
“Dr Abati called in sick today,” Oseni clarified.
