Oshiomhole challenges Reuben Abati over ‘mischievous’ questions on Arise TV

The former governor of Edo state and current Senator representing Edo north, Adams Oshiomhole has challenged Reuben Abati of Arise Television over what he termed “mischievous” questioning during a recent television segment.

Oshiomhole who appeared on Channels Television Tuesday’s programme, during an interview, expressed dissatisfaction at Abati’s line of questioning directed at Ifeanyi Okowa, immediate past governor of Delta state and Vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election, in an earlier programme.

Oshiomhole said, “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?’

“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?”

Oshiomhole also pointed Abati’s past, mentioning his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after serving as a spokesperson to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Oshiomhole further questioned, “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 senator also disproved Abati’s comments on Labour Day, where he felt the veteran journalist failed to acknowledge his contributions to labour movement in Nigeria.

“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,” he said.

He said if Abati wished to continue his criticisms, they should do so in person.

“Rather than crediting me with that, he said when they leave NLC, they now go and become governors.” Oshiomhole said

“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, using every opportunity 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.”