“Let’s Fight on the Street!” – Oshiomhole Dares Reuben Abati Over Consistent Criticism on Live TV

 

Nigerian politics just got another dose of drama as fiery politician and former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has publicly challenged respected journalist and former presidential aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, to a physical street fight. Yes, you read that right – a street fight!

This bold and unexpected challenge came during a heated appearance by Oshiomhole on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on the night of Tuesday, May 13. The senator, who currently represents Edo North in the Senate, was visibly agitated as he responded to what he described as persistent on-air attacks by Reuben Abati.

Oshiomhole, who has never been known to shy away from confrontations, expressed his deep frustration with the way Abati allegedly uses his media platform on Arise News Channel to consistently criticize, misrepresent, and belittle him without offering any fair or balanced context.

In his own words, Oshiomhole fumed:

“If you want to abuse me, don’t hide under the TV. Let us meet on the streets and we fight it out.”

According to him, the kind of public ridicule and character attacks coming from Abati are not only unfair but deliberately mischievous. He said Abati's style of journalism has become one-sided and disrespectful, especially when discussing his (Oshiomhole’s) contributions to Nigeria.

Going further, the former Edo State governor lamented how Abati has been downplaying his legacy, especially his long-standing record as a labour rights champion. Oshiomhole pointed out that Abati, who once praised him highly during his time as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has now completely changed his tone.

He recalled with a clear sense of betrayal:

“Even on Labour Day, he couldn’t credit me for leading protests. This is the same guy who once wrote, ‘Oshiomhole, the People’s President,’ when I was NLC president. Now he is asking, ‘What is my status?’”

Oshiomhole appeared deeply hurt by this change in attitude and wondered aloud why Abati had gone from admiration to outright condemnation.

In a sharp criticism of Abati’s own political history, Oshiomhole reminded Nigerians that Abati had once publicly criticized the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, only to later accept a high-profile appointment as his official spokesman.

In an almost sarcastic tone, Oshiomhole added:

“You don’t condemn pounded yam and end up consuming it all over. After all that, the EFCC arrested him. Was I the one who granted him bail? Now he has left PDP and is where he is?”

This was a clear jab at Abati’s time in office and his later arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Although Oshiomhole did not go into details about the outcome of Abati’s EFCC ordeal, he implied that Abati lacks the moral high ground to attack others.

But perhaps the most personal and revealing part of Oshiomhole’s outburst came when he appeared to question Abati’s mental state and motivations, hinting that the journalist’s bitterness might be rooted in political disappointment.

He said:

“If you are angry because you wanted to become a deputy governor and you lost the election in Ogun State, is that the reason why you are so paranoid?”

Clearly, Oshiomhole was referring to Abati’s unsuccessful attempt to become the deputy governor of Ogun State under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2019 general elections. Though he didn't mention the election or party by name, the reference was clear to most viewers.

Final Thoughts

This confrontation between Oshiomhole and Abati has sparked a lot of reactions across Nigeria. It highlights the growing tension between politicians and journalists, especially when media personalities cross over into the political space. While some people support Oshiomhole’s outburst as a bold defense of his record, others believe he should have maintained more composure instead of calling for a street fight.

Either way, the political space just got a lot more interesting – and personal.

Stay tuned to NaijaRush for more updates on this brewing political drama.