Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) has issued a startling challenge to Arise TV anchor Dr. Reuben Abati, daring the former presidential spokesperson to a physical confrontation over what he termed “disrespectful” and “mischievous” remarks made during a live broadcast.
The former Edo governor and NLC president issued the challenge on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday while reacting to Abati’s comments during a recent episode of Arise TV’s The Morning Show.
Abati had appeared to mock former Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s defection to the APC by questioning whether he sought Oshiomhole’s “permission” for forgiveness.
“I was particularly shocked that a senior editor could ask the immediate past governor of Delta state, Okowa, mischievously, I must say, with all due respect, ‘did you get permission from Oshiomhole that your sins will now be forgiven before you decided to decamp to APC?'” Oshiomhole fumed.
Though he avoided directly naming Abati, his references left no doubt about his target.
“How can you ask that? What is my status? I am in the legislature. Is the legislature responsible for the prosecution of anyone wrong in any way?” the senator questioned.
Oshiomhole then turned personal, referencing Abati’s 2015 arrest by the EFCC after serving as Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesperson:
“The man who made that statement was at a time invited by the EFCC after he was Jonathan’s spokesman, shamelessly. Thereafter, EFCC arrested him. Was I the one who granted him bail to leave PDP to go where he is?”
The labour leader-turned-politician also accused Abati of deliberately omitting his contributions to workers’ struggles, particularly during May Day celebrations:
“Even on Labour Day, he was saying some labour leaders who had been involved in picketing and fought for workers; he could not even credit me with the fact that I led the protest. This is a guy who wrote ‘Oshiomhole the people’s president’ when I was president of the NLC. Rather than crediting me with that, he said when they leave NLC, they now go and become governors.”
The confrontation took a dramatic turn when Oshiomhole issued his street fight challenge:
“If you are angry because you wanted to be a deputy governor and you lost an election in Ogun state, is that the reason you are paranoid, that every opportunity you want to abuse me? If you want to abuse me, don’t hide behind the TV; let’s meet in the street and fight it out.”
Abati had run as PDP deputy governorship candidate alongside Buruji Kashamu in Ogun’s 2019 election, losing to APC’s Dapo Abiodun. The exchange marks the latest chapter in the long-running tension between the combative senator and the veteran journalist.