By Ghazali Ibrahim 
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has issued a fiery challenge to Arise TV anchor and former presidential spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, daring him to a street fight over a disrespectful statement made during a live broadcast.
The former Edo State governor and current senator representing Edo North made the comments on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Oshiomhole was reacting to a recent episode of Arise TV’s The Morning Show, where Abati asked former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, if he had gotten permission from Oshiomhole before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I was particularly shocked that a senior editor could ask… Okowa, mischievously, ‘Did you get permission from Oshiomhole that your sins will now be forgiven before you decided to decamp to APC?’” Oshiomhole said.
He dismissed the question as absurd and accused Abati of misrepresenting his political influence.
“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?” he questioned.
Although Oshiomhole refrained from naming Abati directly, his pointed references made it clear whom he was addressing.
He also took a dig at Abati’s past role as President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman and referenced his 2016 arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“The man who made that statement was at a time invited by the EFCC… shamelessly. Thereafter, EFCC arrested him. Was I the one who granted him bail to leave PDP to go where he is?” he asked rhetorically.
Oshiomhole also accused Abati of deliberately downplaying his contributions to the Nigerian labour movement, particularly on Labour Day.
“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,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Oshiomhole fired off a direct challenge: “If you want to abuse me, don’t hide behind the TV; let’s meet in the street and fight it out.”
Reuben Abati, who was the running mate to the late Senator Buruji Kashamu in the 2019 Ogun State governorship race under the PDP, has yet to respond publicly to the remarks.
