I never begged Wike for money — Abati responds to Olayinka’s claims

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Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson and co-anchor of The Morning Show on Arise TV, has refuted allegations made by Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that he and his wife had previously requested financial support from the minister.

Abati also dismissed similar claims that have been making rounds in various media outlets.

During the Friday edition of the program, Olayinka alleged that Abati was a known supporter of ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

He further claimed that Abati’s absence from the show that day was intentional and influenced by the station’s management due to concerns about his alleged partiality.

However, co-host Rufai Oseni countered the accusation, offering a different explanation for Abati’s absence and rejecting the notion that it was connected to any political bias.

Olayinka had also stated that Abati and his wife were among individuals who had approached Wike for financial help—an assertion Abati has strongly 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.

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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.”

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