Abati blasts Obi over ‘attention seeking’ press conference on Tinubu’s identity

Reuben Abati, a renowned journalist and former presidential spokesman, has lambasted the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his press conference on President Bola Tinubu’s identity and academic records.

Abati, speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show which he co-hosts on Thursday, described Obi’s press conference as unnecessary and attention-seeking, and advised him to consider a career in evangelism instead of politics.

“When I saw the press conference by Mr Peter Obi yesterday, I thought it was needless,” he said. “If Peter Obi is considering a career in evangelism… there are many people who have gone from other careers into evangelism.”

Abati added that Obi had no legal basis to challenge Tinubu’s identity and credentials, and that the only appropriate forum for him to do so was the court.

“Within the framework of the electoral process, what he did yesterday in my view was just seeking media attention and looking for publicity,” he said.

“The only appropriate forum that Mr Peter Obi can adopt is to go to court and say he has issues to raise.”

Abati also criticized Obi for moralizing and lecturing Tinubu on his personal life, saying that it was not relevant to the electoral process.

“But to come forward and be giving a press conference and moralising, it does not quite fall within the framework of the matter before us,” he said.