- Safiu Kehinde
Popular Nigerian journalist, Reuben Abati, has accused the media of collecting money to allow the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to make disparaging remarks against political opponents.
NPO Reported that Wike had during his media parley held yesterday thrown shades at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the 2023 Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over their criticism of the Rivers State Local Government election held last week.
The FCT Minister also dragged former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who he challenged to a bet over the chances of President Bola Tinubu wining the 2027 general election.
Reacting during the Arise TV’s The Morning Show programme on Tuesday, Abati faulted the media for giving Wike the platform to talk what he described as senseless talks.
He accused the media of being paid to enable the FCT Minister make his disparaging comments about oppositions.
“I blame the media. The media is giving him platform to disparage other political opponents. Yesterday he was talking about Peter Obi, Goodluck Jonathan, Nasir El-Rufai. What gives him that moral high ground to talk recklessly and unintelligently?
“The media are the ones going to interview him, and they are the ones collecting money to put him on the air. If he is talking about the FCT, yes fine.
“But if he is disparaging other political opponents, the media has an obligation to give all the other persons that have been disparaged a right a reply.
“We should not create a situation whereby for momentarily reasons, the Nigerian media is sucking up to a Minister of the Federal Republic who in my view is overreaching himself.” He was.
While accusing the former Anambra state governor of destroying the PDP, Abati maintained that that Wike is not in the pole position to criticse others.
“Wike is not in a position to talk about character. In fact, he should question his own character. I don’t know why people have problems with basic intelligence and decorum. He goes on television, and he says Peter Obi doesn’t have character.
“Peter Obi left PDP and went to Labour Party. Now he is in ADC. In fact, it is Wike himself that destroyed the party. And he also says President Jonathan should not come and run on the platform of the PDP because he is a statesman.
“He is not in the position to advise President Jonathan just as he has made it clear that nobody can advise him. Who is he to determine the destiny of the Peoples Democratic Party when he is already in another political party.”