Presidency confirms death of Jonathan’s brother, Chief Meni Innocent Jonthan

by Isi Esene The presidency has confirmed the death of the president’s younger brother Meni Joathan who passed away earlier today. The statement reads thus: STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT JONATHAN’S YOUNGER BROTHER DIES IN ABUJA AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan announces with sadness the death earlier today of his younger brother, Chief... Read More

Abuja, Meni Jonathan, National Hospital, President Goodluck Jonathan, reuben abati

November 20, 2012

#NowWeKnow: President Jonathan spills the beans, contradicts media aides

by Isi Esene Analysts are of the view that president Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday, during the presidential media chat, contradicted some of his media aides on certain policy issues emanating from the presidency. It was noted that the president did this on issues concerning power, the first lady’s health, and security. On the issue of... Read More

Ayo Osinlu, Dame Patience Jonathan, Goodluck Jonathan, illness, Presidency, presidential media chat, reuben abati

November 18, 2012

Now we’re talking: President Jonathan releases contact details for tonight’s media chat

by Isi Esene President Goodluck Jonathan is set to address all questions directed at him in the presidential media chat scheduled to take place between 7 – 9pm tonight. In a statement released earlier today by the special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Reuben Abati, the president will “in the course of... Read More

FRCN, Goodluck Jonathan, Live broadcast, NTA, presidential media chat, reuben abati

November 14, 2012

“Olusola Saraki will be remembered as a political colossus” – President Jonathan

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE LATE SARAKI WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A POLITICAL COLOSSUS – PRESIDENT JONATHAN President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan joins all Nigerians in mourning one of Nigeria’s most prominent political leaders, medical practitioner and democrat, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki who passed away in Lagos this morning. President Jonathan extends sincere commiserations to the elder... Read More

Goodluck Jonathan, kwara, Olusola Saraki, Politics, reuben abati

November 12, 2012

Talk about Ribadu Report is “ignorant carping”, “malicious tittle-tattle”, “putrefacious stench” – Abati

by Reuben Abati It is so unfortunate that there has been so much ignorant carping and malicious tittle-tattling about the report of the Petroleum Revenue Task Force chaired by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, both failings arising from a deliberate attempt to individualize what was actually group work, a mischievous attempt to politicize one report out of... Read More

jonathan, Petroleum, PROBE, reuben abati, ribadu

November 2, 2012

This is our stand: Rivers government attacks Bayelsa on oil wells, accuses Jonathan of favouritism

by Isi Esene The dispute between the Rivers State and Bayelsa over land delineation and allocation of benefits accruing to the states have deepened with the Rotimi Amaechi-led Rivers State government accusing the federal government of partiality in its intervention into the matter. According to a press statement released by the state commissioner for information,... Read More

Bayelsa, boundary, Federal Government, Ibim Semenitari, Kalabari, reuben abati, Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi

November 2, 2012

Confusion: Boko Haram now seeks peace, wants Buhari as mediator

by Isi Esene Reports say the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has offered a ceasefire giving certain conditions for its workability. The group was said to have demanded that the federal government arrests the former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Ali Modu Sheriff is also reported to be on the police watch-list... Read More

Ali Modu Sheriff, boko haram, Goodluck Jonathan, Militants, Mohammadu Buhari, reuben abati

October 30, 2012

Reuben Abati: The President brought hope to the floods

by Reuben Abati Barring any other development of equally impactful effect, the great event of the year 2012 for Nigerians would probably be the floods that submerged many communities across the country, forcing a rude awakening about the reality of climate change and Nigeria’s share of this global phenomenon. Which is ironic in one sense... Read More

flood, jonathan, reuben abati

October 25, 2012

“A great honour” for Nigeria: GEJ congratulates Cardinal Onaiyekan

by Isi Esene President Goodluck Jonathan has sent a congratulatory message to Bishop John Onaiyekan on his recent elevation to the position of Cardinal of the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI. In his statement made public by Reuben Abati, the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Jonathan said this elevation clearly... Read More

Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Goodluck Jonathan, nigeria, Pope Benedict, reuben abati, Vatican

October 21, 2012

President Jonathan congratulates Mimiko on his election victory, commends INEC

by Isi Esene President Goodluck Jonathan has through his special adviser on media and publicity, Reuben Abati, congratulated the governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko on his re-election in the keenly contested election which took place yesterday. The president also took the opportunity to commend the effort of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and... Read More

Akure, Goodluck Jonathan, Olusegun Mimiko, Olusola Oke, Ondo State, reuben abati, Rotimi Akeredolu

October 2, 2012

The latest presidential gaffe: President Jonathan’s aides scramble to defend him over his Independence Day ‘lie’

by Stanley Azuakola President Goodluck Jonathan’s Independence day speech is being panned by the media over a claim he made which has now been confirmed as false. In his speech, the president attempted to buttress his point that the nation was doing well in fighting corruption by alluding to a ‘non-existent’ Transparency International (TI) report.... Read More

gaffe, Goodluck Jonathan, independence, nigeria, Reno Omokri, reuben abati, Speech

October 2, 2012

Battle ready: Presidential guards’ brigade gets new battalion

by Stanley Azuakola Before yesterday, the presidential guards’ brigade consisted of the 177 and 7 battalions. With the inauguration yesterday at the fore-court of the Presidential Villa of the newly formed 176 Special Forces Battalion, that number has increased to three. The guards’ brigade is a special unit of the military specifically charged with the... Read More

176 Special Forces Battalion, Erelu Olusola Obada, independence, reuben abati

September 30, 2012

#IndependenceDay: President Jonathan to address the nation tomorrow

by Isi Esene As part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 52nd Independence from colonial rule, President Goodluck Jonathan will tomorrow address the nation by 7am tomorrow. This bit was disclosed by the special adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, who urged all television stations to hook on to the Nigerian Television... Read More

Aminu Tambuwal, CJN, David Mark, FRCN, Goodluck Jonathan, independence, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, NTA, reuben abati

September 21, 2012

Jonathan orders immediate stop to the planned N5,000 note, CBN bows

by Isi Esene Special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Reuben Abati on Thursday disclosed to newsmen that the president has ordered the suspension of the planned introduction of the N5,000 scheduled to come into circulation next year. According to him, the president Jonathan’s latest disposition to the issue was based on the... Read More

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September 13, 2012

Why Jonathan rushed his return to Nigeria – Abati

Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, yesterday explained the reasons behind President Goodluck Jonathan’s return from his foreign trip to Malawi and Botswana ahead of schedule. Abati reportedly said the president finished his mission on the second leg of his trip earlier than expected further explaining that there is no hard and fast rule to the duration... Read More

Botswana, delegation, Diezani Alison Madueke, fec, foreign, Malawi, Minister, Patience Jonathan, President Goodluck Jonathan, reuben abati

September 12, 2012

Jonathan cuts foreign visit short, rushes back to Abuja

by Isi Esene President Goodluck Jonathan put an abrupt stop to his state visit to Botswana and Malawi further fuelling speculation about the state of health of the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Reuben Abati, the special adviser to the president on Media and Publicity had in a statement on Saturday, while announcing the president’s... Read More

Aso Rock, Botswana, first lady, Germany, Malawi, Patience Jonathan, Presidency, President Goodluck Jonathan, reuben abati

September 10, 2012

Reuben Abati: The difference between journalism and public relations

by Chido Nwakanma One of the reasons the article fails woefully is the high level of “channel noise” Abati himself introduces into the discourse. You cannot seek to win over people by first insulting them! You lose that audience immediately. Presidential spokesperson Dr. Reuben Abati wrote on Sunday August 26 an article syndicated in at... Read More

Chido Nwakanma, journalism, Media, public relations, reuben abati

September 6, 2012

Opinion: The President Jonathan you don’t know

by Raheem Oluwafunminiyi In the last couple of weeks, the Presidency via its media inner circle has been having it tough with critics, most especially the hard-nut-to-crack opposition parties, the ‘army of sponsored and self-appointed anarchists’ and also ‘the twittering, pinging, Facebook crowd of the new age’. This tough battle between the President’s men and... Read More

critics, President Goodluck Jonathan, Raheem Oluwafunminiyi, reuben abati

September 5, 2012

Patience Jonathan: “I can’t call to confirm her return… is she my mate?” – Spokesman

by Isi Esene The spokesman of the nation’s first lady, Ayo Osinlu has expressed frustration over the barrage of questions directed at him over the unexplained absence of Mrs Patience Jonathan. Mrs. Jonathan has not been seen in public for a couple of days arousing speculation that she had been flown abroad for a medical... Read More

appendicitis, Ayo Osinlu, emergency, food poisoning, Germany, Patience Jonathan, Presidency, reuben abati

September 4, 2012

Simon Kolawole: Critics, cynics and the president

This is the trick: Jonathan should not fall into the mistake of grouping all his critics together. He will be missing the point if he regards anyone who raises any issue with his administration as an enemy. When a presidential spokesman begins to react to beer-parlour gossips about his principal with a full-page newspaper article, then... Read More

criticism, President Goodluck Jonathan, reuben abati, simon kolawole

September 3, 2012

Just a moment’s rest: “The first lady is not hospitalised” – Presidency

by Isi Esene The special adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati has denied reports indicating that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan was indisposed and flown abroad for proper medical attention. While responding to reports which emanated from an online news platform, Abati said the story “was a rumour and there... Read More

Abuja, Dame Ptience Jonathan, first lady, food poisoning, Germany, reuben abati, rumour

August 27, 2012

FG confirms ‘back room’ dialogue with Boko Haram

by Isi Esene The Federal Government yesterday confirmed reports going the rounds that it is in talks with representatives of the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The group had recently denied any form of dialogue with the government contrary to a statement released by one Habu Mohammed who claimed to be a deputy to the... Read More

boko haram, dialogue, Federal Government, Goodluck Jonathan, Habu Mohammed, reuben abati, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, terrorism, VOA

August 26, 2012

Reuben Abati: The Jonathan they don’t know

The clear danger to public affairs commentary is that we have a lot of unintelligent people repeating stupid clichés and too many intelligent persons wasting their talents lending relevance to thoughtless conclusions. “THEY” in this piece refers to all the cynics, the pestle-wielding critics, the unrelenting, self-appointed activists, the idle and idling, twittering, collective children... Read More

Abraham Lincoln, cassava bread, clueless, drinking, Etim Etim, fish pepper soup, Goodluck Jonathan, Kwame Nkrumah, Mahatma Gandhi, martin luther king, reuben abati

August 1, 2012

“How can a 60-year-old man be an attack dog?” – Doyin Okupe reacts, calls Abati his “younger brother”

by Hauwa Gambo For those expecting a ‘War of the Drs’ – Dr. Doyin Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati are determined to disappoint you. The senior special assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs engaging the public and the special adviser on (Media and) Publicity are two very different roles and have no implication on... Read More

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July 27, 2012

Analysis: Like OBJ, like GEJ – Nothing new in Okupe’s appointment as SA

by Stanley Azuakola The big news this morning on social media sites is the appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan of Dr. Doyin Okupe, as his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs. Mr. Okupe is not new to a role like this, as he served as Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.... Read More

Attack, Doyin Okupe, election, Goodluck Jonathan, olusegun obasanjo, remi Oyo, reuben abati, spokesman

July 21, 2012

“The House and the President are on the same page” – GEJ responds to impeachment threat

by Adeniyi Abdul Earlier week an interesting bit of news made the rounds about the House of Reps threatening to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan over his failure to properly implement the approved 2012 budget. Mr. Sam-Tsokwa (PDP/Taraba) had raised the motion, saying “The president, by failing to implement the budget as passed by this honourable House,... Read More

House of Reps, Impeachment, nigeria, President Jonathan, reuben abati

July 9, 2012

#InCaseYouMissedIt: Aig-Imoukhuede, #FuelSubsidyProbe and the matter of “Ice Energy”

by Isi Esene Following the shocking revelation in the report of the House of Representatives Committee that fuel subsidy payment, for which about N245billion was appropriated in the 2011 budget, had suddenly spiraled to over N2.6 trillion (over 2,200 per cent increase) as at December last year, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for... Read More

Access Bank Plc, Aig-Imoukhuede, farouk lawan, Ice Energy, reuben abati, subsidy probe

July 9, 2012

Same old, same old: GEJ orders security agents to fish out Dantong’s killers

by Isi Esene President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday ordered security agencies to fish out the killers of Senator Gyang Dantong. Dantong and hundreds of others were attending a mass burial in Maseh village, Riyom Local Government Area for 64 victims of the weekend attacks on Plateau villages by people believed to be Fulani herdsmen. The... Read More

David Mark, Gyang Dantong, plateau state, President Goodluck Jonathan, reuben abati, terrorism

June 4, 2012

#InCaseYouMissedIt: Reuben Abati gets on Twitter, mis(fires) first salvo

Presidential Spokesman Reuben Abati has finally joined the ranks of Twitterphiles, sending three messages to the country and the world about the president’s impending arrival at Lagos for a visit to the Dana Air plane crash site. While his intentions seem to sympathise with the victims and those affected by the June 3 Dana Air crash, Mr. Abati did not... Read More

#DanaCrash, GEJ, Goodluck Jonathan, reuben abati