Senator Adams Oshiomhole has accused Arise TV anchor and former presidential spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, of using his media platform to express unresolved political frustrations, including a failed bid to become deputy governor of Ogun State.

The former Edo State governor accused Abati of harbouring political resentment against since his failed attempt to become deputy governor when he ran as deputy to the late Senator Buruji Kashamu in the 2019 Ogun State governorship race under the Peoples Democratice Party (PDP) but lost to Dapo Abiodun of the e All Progressives Congress (APC).

“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, that every opportunity you want 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,” he said.

Oshiomhole made the remarks during an interview on Politics Today aired on Channels Television, where he responded to a recent Arise TV segment in which Abati questioned former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s move to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Did you get permission from Oshiomhole that your sins will now be forgiven before you decided to decamp to APC?” Abati had allegedly asked Okowa on-air a comment Oshiomhole described as disrespectful and mischievous.

Oshiomhole, a former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the question falsely implied he had influence over who was accepted into the APC.

“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 said.

Without directly naming Abati, Oshiomhole referenced the journalist’s past, particularly his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following his tenure as 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.

He also criticised Abati’s perceived refusal to acknowledge his contributions to labour movements, particularly during May Day commemorations.

“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,” he said.