Speaking on Tuesday during The Morning Show on Arise Television, where he serves as co-host, Abati criticized Wike’s growing reputation for turning against his political benefactors. He argued that if Wike could publicly disparage individuals who were instrumental in his political rise, there is a strong possibility he may direct similar disrespect toward President Tinubu.
Abati described Wike’s conduct as arrogant and ungrateful, calling it a character defect rooted in “hubris.” He recalled Wike’s past derogatory remarks toward Peter Odili, a former Rivers State governor who played a key role in his emergence as a political force.
“He said publicly that Peter Odili doesn’t even qualify to be called an elder,” Abati noted. “This is the same person who helped him become governor through the intervention of Dr. Patience Jonathan.”
Abati further pointed out Wike’s past public feuds with political figures such as Rotimi Amaechi, his former mentor, and Chief Olabode George, whom Wike once insulted by calling a “ground rent debtor.”
“Who exactly is Wike incapable of insulting?” Abati asked rhetorically. “The pattern is there. If he can disrespect those who lifted him, he’s capable of turning on President Tinubu too.”
The warning comes on the heels of Wike’s recent remarks about President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, where Wike suggested he would have given different advice had he been informed earlier—an attitude Abati interpreted as a subtle sign of disloyalty.
In conclusion, Abati urged the President to tread carefully, warning that Wike’s history of attacking allies might soon extend to the presidency itself.
