Reuben Abati, former spokesperson to President Goodluck Jonathan, has faulted Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for his remarks on Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Odili and Bode George.
Abati asked President Bola Tinubu to be wary of the minister over his antecedents, as Tinubu may get insulted in the future.
The seasoned journalist spoke on Tuesday on ‘The Morning Show’, a breakfast programme which he anchors on ARISE Television.
He faulted Wike for being “disrespectful and rude” to those who played significant roles in his political career.
On Monday, Wike organised a media chat where he criticised Amaechi’s recent remarks on hunger, dismissing them as “politically motivated.”
The FCT Minister argued that Amaechi, having held various political offices for over two decades, couldn’t genuinely be speaking from personal experience of hunger.
In response, Reuben Abati accused Wike of speaking recklessly about his former mentors, describing it as a sign of character flaws.
Drawing from the concept of dramaturgy, Abati said Wike exhibits clear signs of “hubris” in the way he addresses those who once supported his rise in politics.
He noted that Wike had previously disparaged Peter Odili, a former Rivers State governor who played a key role in his political growth.
Abati warned that Wike’s pattern of behaviour suggests he may soon direct similar attacks at President Bola Tinubu.
“There is a basic principle in human relationships about your relationship with your bosses,” he said.
“I think Nyesom Wike is very rude and disrespectful because Rotimi Amaechi is his boss in politics.
“When he (Wike) was LGA chairman, during Amaechi’s second term, it was Rotimi Amaechi who helped him to become LGA chairman.
“Subsequently, he became chief of staff to Rotimi Amaechi. It was Amaechi who recommended him to become Minister of State for Education.
“He talks carelessly about his former bosses. I think he is disrespectful. This speaks to his character.
“Still talking about his hubris, he has abused Sir Peter Odili, an elder statesman. He had said publicly that Peter Odili does not qualify to be an elder.
“This was the same man that he was taken to by Dr Patience Jonathan to help him become governor. There is no name he has not called Dr Peter Odili and his wife.
“He referred to Chief Olabode George as a ground rent debtor.
“Who will Nyesom Wike not insult? He has shown signs that he is also going to insult President Bola Tinubu.
“In that interview, he pointed out that if he had known that President Tinubu was going to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, he would have offered a different kind of advice.
“That is already a signal to President Tinubu to know that this man you are dealing with, his only interest is his own interests.
“President Tinubu should beware. Tomorrow he will abuse this same President Tinubu.”
In the past, Wike had described how Odili saved his political career and promised never to make him cry or disappoint him.
Odili served as the governor of Rivers from May 1999 to May 2007.
Amaechi also led the state as governor from October 2007 to May 2015.
When Amaechi was Rivers governor, Wike was his chief of staff from 2007 to 2011. After Wike’s tenure as chief of staff, Amaechi recommended him to be appointed minister, which was approved by then-President Goodluck Jonathan, who named him as minister of state for education.
In 2015, Wike succeeded Amaechi as governor of Rivers State.
