“Abati Was Running Mate to a Drug Trafficker Wanted by the U.S.” – Wike’s Aide Blasts Arise TV Anchor

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has launched a scathing attack on journalist and Arise TV anchor Reuben Abati, accusing him of hypocrisy and moral grandstanding. Olayinka claimed that Abati, who often criticizes public officials on national television, once served as a running mate to a fugitive drug trafficker.

Speaking on Arise Television’s *Morning Show* on Friday, Olayinka reminded viewers that in 2019, Abati was the deputy governorship candidate in Ogun State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), running alongside the late Buruji Kashamu. At the time, Kashamu was facing drug trafficking charges and was wanted by the United States government.

“Abati has always come to this station to present himself as a moral police, to postulate, and he will not one day tell us that at a moment in his life, he was a politician – a member of the PDP – and was the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Ogun State,” Olayinka said. “He was comfortable having his picture displayed with somebody who was wanted by the American government for alleged drug trafficking. He stood on the podium with him.”

Olayinka’s remarks came in response to Abati’s criticism of Wike, whom he recently described as rude over comments made about former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. The aide questioned Abati’s credibility in judging others, given his own political past.

“That is the person that will come here and pronounce with his mouth that a former governor and Minister that he once ran to for help is a rude person, he is a bully,” Olayinka added.

The fiery exchange underscores the escalating war of words between political actors and media personalities, with Olayinka painting Abati as morally unfit to critique others.