Oshiomhole Challenges Reuben Abati To Street Fight Over ‘Mischievous’ Questions

Adams Oshiomhole, the senator representing Edo North, has called out journalist Reuben Abati, challenging him to settle their differences with a physical fight.

The outburst came after Oshiomhole took offense to questions Abati asked during a recent TV interview with former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Arise TV.

Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Oshiomhole said he was shocked by Abati’s “mischievous” question, where he asked Okowa if he needed Oshiomhole’s approval before switching to the APC.

“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 said.

Oshiomhole questioned why his name was dragged into the matter at all.

“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 added.

Oshiomhole also took a jab at Abati’s past, reminding viewers that the journalist was once arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after serving as former President 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?” Oshiomhole asked.

The senator also accused Abati of refusing to acknowledge his role in Nigeria’s labour movement.

According to him, Abati downplayed his efforts on Labour Day despite his history of leading major protests as the former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

“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,” Oshiomhole said.

He further suggested that if Abati has a personal problem with him, they should face each other directly instead of throwing jabs on TV.

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

“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.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Edo Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa recently revealed that Adams Oshiomhole opposed the appointment of his son, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, as the Edo State Commissioner for Health.