“It is a tragedy for the PDP that the party has been reduced to the level of tantrums and melodrama of one individual called Nyesom Wike, 59-year-old, who thinks that the party belongs to him.”
By Emma Ogbuehi
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who is still smarting from his loss at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries, met his match on Monday in Arise TV anchor, Dr. Reuben Abati, who described him as a man lacking the intellect to teach him journalism.
Wike, who lost the primaries to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insinuated recently that Abati does not engage in investigative journalism.
Abati led the media crew which interviewed Atiku. The interview has raised dust in the political circle, particularly in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor, who is displeased with the way he was overlooked for the vice-presidential slot following his presumed sacrifices for the party, claimed Atiku told lies in the interview.
He also accused Abati of not asking Atiku intelligent questions. The Rivers State governor met with some PDP governors and ex-governors in Abuja on Sunday over the crisis in the party.
On Monday, Abati fired, taking very strong exception to the governor’s comments on the interview with Atiku Abubakar.
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Responding to Wike’s criticism, Mr. Abati said on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Monday that the PDP should be blamed for making Wike feel entitled because he was the one who held the party together after it lost the presidential election in 2015.
“It is a tragedy for the PDP that the party has been reduced to the level of tantrums and melodrama of one individual called Nyesom Wike, 59-year-old, who thinks that the party belongs to him,” said Abati.
The former presidential spokesman said the party should find out what Wike wants and give him some “lollipop.”
“Governor Wike is not in a position to teach Reuben Abati journalism. He calls it investigative journalism. I put it to him that we asked all the right questions. Governor Wike does not have the capacity or intellect to teach me journalism,” he added.