Reuben Abati

Veteran journalist and former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, has dismissed claims by former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, that President Bola Tinubu’s administration may soon resort to borrowing from fintech companies like Opay and Moniepoint.

Reacting on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday, Abati described Melaye’s comments as “sensational politics,” stressing that such claims lacked substance and were politically motivated.

Abati noted that Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is an opposition figure, hence it was unsurprising that he would not commend the Tinubu administration.

“Dino Melaye is a chieftain of the ADC, an opposition party, so you do not expect him to praise the Tinubu administration. He is very articulate and outspoken, so he is accusing the president of borrowing. But let’s examine the facts: President Tinubu said, ‘we have met revenue projections, we are making a lot of money from non-oil, and we are not borrowing from Nigerian banks.’

“I’m surprised Melaye is talking about borrowing from Moniepoint and Opay. I don’t think that is the kind of money the Nigerian government would be considering in terms of capacity,” Abati said.

Melaye had earlier mocked Tinubu’s government, claiming Nigerians would not be surprised if it began borrowing from loan apps amid criticisms over the administration’s debt profile.

Abati, however, dismissed the remarks as baseless and politically charged. He also tackled Melaye over his allegations that Tinubu purchased a luxury yacht with taxpayers’ money and stationed it abroad.

According to Abati, the claim was false. He clarified that the yacht was introduced under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the 2023 supplementary budget, and the Nigerian Navy had explained that it was an operational vessel, not a luxury purchase for Tinubu.

“The claim that Tinubu has a yacht bought with taxpayers’ money and kept between Monaco and elsewhere is not true. When the controversy came up, it was clarified that the yacht was part of the Navy’s operational requirements, not a personal luxury item for the President. But you know, in politics, anything sensational can be twisted,” Abati added.

Veteran Journalist Dr Reuben Abati has reacted to the allegations levelled against him by an aide to FCT Minister Lere Olayinka during an interview on Arise News

This is a statement issued by him:

REFUTATION ON LERE OLAYINKA’S INTERVIEW ON ARISE NEWS – THE MORNING SHOW, FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2025

1. I have never approached Minister Nyesom Wike to beg for money — that is a lie. If anyone — including an ex-partner — went to him under false pretences to solicit funds in my name, I place a clear disclaimer. Such actions were not authorised by me, and Minister Wike reserves every right to call it out as fraud.

2. Like many others, I was invited by the EFCC for questioning — a lawful and procedural engagement. At no time was I asked to return any money. In fact, the EFCC under Former Chairman, Ibrahim Magu later issued an apology to me.

3. Lere Olayinka clearly misused the word “hubris” — a basic dictionary reference would have sufficed. I will not indulge further in responding to him directly; he is not my peer. I await a more meaningful conversation — if any — from his principal, not his proxy.

4. I am not Rotimi Amaechi’s spokesperson, nor do I have his phone number. That’s a fabrication.

5. I was not absent from The Morning Show to avoid any discussion. I was engaged at a pre-scheduled book review for “Oprah Benson – Live and Legend”, a 550-page publication by Dr. Udu Yakubu. It was an honourable intellectual commitment.

6. I stand firmly by everything I said regarding Minister Wike. He is a public official occupying a public office. He is, and should remain, subject to public scrutiny. Nobody in public service is above accountability.

7. On the matter of Buruji Kashamu, it is important to state that the allegations against him were never proven in any court of law.

Until his death, he was never convicted of any crime, either in Nigeria or abroad. Persisting in amplifying unproven accusations against the deceased is in poor taste and ethically questionable.

8. My heartfelt appreciation goes to my diligent team — Rufai Oseni, Vimbai, and our wider crew — for standing tall with pose and professionalism. And to my ever-supportive wife, Kikelomo Atanda-Owo Abati, your strength remains my anchor.

May God bless Nigeria with true transparency, integrity, and boldness in public discourse.

I am Reuben Abati.

By Chibuike Nwabuko

ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Popular Arise Television presenter, Rufai Oseni has replied critics who have abandoned the issues but are now chasing shadows by arguing that he should leave broadcasting and focus on animal-related adventures since he holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Animal Physiology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

Precise Post recalls that since yesterday the social media has been buzzing over the war of words between Rufai Oseni and Lere Olayinka, the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Olayinka, who was a guest at Arise TV show on Friday said Rufai “should begin to act like a human being that you are suppose to be. Is it not you that studied animal anatomy? Go and be doing documentary on animal now and stop talking to human beings.”

Reacting on Saturday (today) on his X account handle, Rufai in a statement titled, “Time to correct the ignorance” said;

“I have heard some warped analogy about what people studying in school definning them.”

“Based on the warped analogy, That says to be a politician, you must study political science, Madam Thatcher wouldn’t have emerged, she should have focused on the Chemistry the studied and work in the Lab.”

“Probably, Theresa May shouldn’t have become the British prime minister, she could have focused on Geography and become a geographer, trying to discover River Thames.”

“The sad part is people that should know better propagate this propaganda because they can’t challenge me with facts and figures, So they go the route of abuse and insults and I laugh so glowingly because they have confirmed that I am definitely doing something right.”

“For us to build the Nigeria we want, we must do the hard work of making our leaders accountable. Accountability means seeking the best solution to the problem.”

“I am not oblivious that those don’t want to be accountable have tools they use to propagate propaganda but they must realize that, the reason they have become tools is due to the dysfunctional nation, we are trying to set right.”

“I am not delusional to think I can change Nigeria, but it will be on record i challenged it. The question is,what are you doing to challenge norms that are not right in society.”

To drive home his point, the popular TV presenter further gave long list of local and international personalities who have distinguished themselves in the media profession who didnt do any course that is journalism related.

For reference, he said:

“Below is a list of Journalist that never studied journalism;

Anderson Cooper: Studied political science at Yale University. He is now a prominent CNN anchor, known for “Anderson Cooper 360°.”
• Lester Holt: Studied government at California State University–Sacramento but did not graduate. He is the anchor of NBC Nightly News.
• Matt Murray: Earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University. He served as editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal (2018–2023) and is currently the executive editor of The Washington Post.
• Yvonne Okwara: Pursued a bachelor’s degree in zoology, botany, and chemistry at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). She is a senior anchor and content producer at Citizen TV in Kenya.
• Paul Njoroge: Earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration and Kiswahili at the University of Nairobi. He has worked as a broadcast journalist at the BBC, QFM, Easy FM, and Citizen TV in Kenya.
• Julie Gichuru: Holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Cardiff, UK. She is a Kenyan media personality, founder of Arimus Media Limited, and has hosted numerous news and current affairs shows.
• Wudan Yan: Was pursuing a PhD in cancer biology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center before transitioning to journalism. She is now an independent journalist who started by pitching stories and working as an intern.
• Libby Solomon: Earned a BA in global studies from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, taking only one feature-writing class. She began her career as an editorial assistant at a small paper and now freelances.
• Sammy Mack: Studied public health and worked as a public health reporter for WLRN in Miami. She took writing classes and pursued internships to build her journalism career.
• Prannoy Roy: Studied economics and is a chartered accountant. He is the founder of NDTV, one of India’s major media houses.
• Vinod Dua: Completed a degree in English honors from Hansraj College. He was a veteran journalist and one of Doordarshan’s first news anchors in India.
• Sucheta Dalal: Studied B.Sc. in statistics and trained as a lawyer. She is a top Indian business journalist known for breaking stock market scam stories.
• Peter Jennings: Did not complete a college degree. He was a renowned Canadian-American journalist and anchor for ABC World News Tonight.
• Walter Cronkite: Attended the University of Texas at Austin but did not graduate, studying political science and economics. He became a legendary CBS news anchor.
• William Safire: Dropped out of Syracuse University. He was a Pulitzer Prize.

Precise Post further recalls that Rufai Oseni has not just brought directness and accountability to journalism, he has carved a distinct niche for himself in Nigerian journalism. His interview style brings several noteworthy qualities to bear on the field:

Directness and Accountability

Rufai is known for his forthright and uncompromising questioning. He often challenges politicians and public figures with direct, pointed questions—pressing them on inconsistencies, evasions, or failures to deliver. This approach reflects a broader trend in journalism where accountability journalism is essential in holding power to account.

2. Intellectual Rigor

He brings an informed and intellectually curious tone to his interviews. His background in science and training in entrepreneurship gives him a cross-disciplinary perspective, which often enriches discussions. He tends to dig deeper beyond surface-level responses and insists on substance over rhetoric.

3. Courage in Confrontation

In a media landscape where many avoid confrontational questions for fear of political backlash or reprisal, Rufai’s courage in challenging powerful guests stands out. He has faced both public and political criticism for his tough style, yet continues to remain consistent—this has gained him a reputation as a principled journalist.

4. Balance and Clarity

While he’s seen as combative by some, Rufai typically balances his assertiveness with clarity and fairness. He often cites facts and public records to support his questions, which helps ground the discourse in truth rather than speculation.

5. Engagement with the Youth and Reform-Minded Public

His style resonates with younger Nigerians and reform-minded viewers, who are often disillusioned with traditional media’s perceived complicity or timidity. By asking the hard questions and pushing back on spin, he reinforces a culture of civic awareness and public engagement.

In essence, Rufai Oseni has helped elevate journalistic standards in Nigeria through fearless inquiry, informed questioning, and a focus on public accountability. His presence on Arise TV has significantly influenced how political discourse is shaped in the Nigerian media space.

A former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as rude.

Abati’s remarks come a day after the FCT Minister referred to a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as a politician who is hungry for power.

“Now that they are out of power, they say they are hungry. It’s not hunger for food. It’s hunger for power,” Wike said during a media chat on Monday.

Reacting to Wike’s comment while speaking on ‘The Morning Show’, an ARISE Television breakfast programme on Tuesday, Abati, a co-host, described Wike as a rude politician, noting that Amaechi is Wike’s boss in the field of politics.

“I think that Nyesom Wike is very rude and disrespectful because Rotimi Amaechi is his boss in politics,” said Abati.

“When he was local government chairman or was it councillor during Amaechi’s second term, it was Rotimi Amaechi that helped him to become local government chairman.”

He added that the FCT minister had previously insulted Peter Odili, a former Rivers governor, who helped him become governor.

The former presidential spokesperson said the FCT minister is showing signs that he will soon use abusive language against President Tinubu.

He advised the president to be wary of Wike because he could insult him in the future just as he had done with Amaechi and others.

Abati said: “Who will Nyesom Wike not insult? He insulted Senator John Mbata, who was his godfather at some point. He also showed signs that he will insult President Bola Tinubu.

“In that interview, he pointed out that if he had known that President Tinubu was going to declare a state of emergency in Rivers, he would have offered a different kind of advice.

“That is already a signal to President Tinubu to know that this man you are dealing with, his only interested is his own interests.

“President Tinubu should beware. Tomorrow he will abuse this same President Tinubu.”