Wole Soyinka & Nigeria's Dinner With The Devil - by Reuben Abati

Professor Wole Soyinka was keynote speaker at the maiden annual lecture of the Ripples Centre for Data and Investigative Journalism held in Lagos on March 15. Topic: “Rebuilding Trust in a Divided Nigeria: Can Nigeria be fixed?” The Nobel Laureate did not disappoint. His presentation titled “From Miyetti to Haiti: Notes from a Solidarity Visit” took us on a journey to Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Nigeria also, and other parts of the world, including the past and the present, raising questions along the line about the humanity of the average Nigerian – the leaders, the followers - his or her humanity or non-humanity, the possession of a sense of dignity, shame, decency, memory, common sense, or lack of it, in comparison with conditions elsewhere.

Buhari's Reunion With His Media Team – By Reuben Abati

I was really excited on Saturday when I received news of the eventual visit of President Muhammadu Buhari’s media team to him in London. I had always felt that the exclusion of the media team from the London medical vacation and the various visits practically undermined the Presidential media office, and created the space for the mismanagement of the communication process around and about the President’s illness.

I could never have imagined my own boss in our time, travelling without me or shutting me out of any important event. He took my team everywhere. Every President has what is called a Main Body. This comprises his first line of assistants, namely his Chief Security Officer, Aide-de-Camp, Chief Detail, Chief Physician, State Chief of Protocol, Personal Assistant (Luggage), Personal Assistant (Private matters), and of course, the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity)/Official Spokesperson.

Prof. Osinbajo's Vision and the Climate of Fear - By Reuben Abati

Goodluck Jonathan's former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity who is a columnist has written yet another interesting piece on recent happenings in the polity. It's a must read! 

“Where have you been?”

“I have been around”

“I was just wondering why you have not said anything since the Acting President proclaimed that those of you who are asking for the restructuring of Nigeria are a bunch of government appointment seekers.”

Lunch in London, Anxiety in Nigeria – By Reuben Abati

“What’s gwan inna wa cwantry?”

“What language is that?”

“English of course.”

“Sounds like Creole to me. Why don’t you just talk straight?”

“Nobody talks straight in this country anymore.”

MMM, Sambisa and the boy died – By Reuben Abati

 “Happy New Year, my brother”

“What do you mean happy new year, more than two weeks into the New Year. Have I not been in touch with you since January 1?”

“But for you the New Year has just started. Your January 1 was not on January 1”

“Looks like you have started taking something. I must inform your wife.”

“I say Happy New Year to you.”

“Okay, same to you.”

Nobody comes to Abuja to read – By Reuben Abati

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Pius Adesanmi’s “A Nigerian, Library and Lawmakers” (Sahara Reporters, December 24). I will like to add a footnote to what he has raised: hopefully, the likely beginning of a useful conversation around the subject of reading, literacy, politician-constituency relationship, and the normative/practical value of knowledge and research in governance. At the risk of over-simplification, Adesanmi’s argument is that Nigerian politicians, unlike their counterparts in Canada and I suppose elsewhere also, do not read. They don’t do research. Nigerian legislators don’t make use of libraries either for research or for any other purpose.

All Protocol (s) Observed – Reuben Abati

Nigerians love events and ceremonies. The engine of governance in fact runs on this special fuel, which in many ways has become an occasional excuse for waste and idleness. I have in the course of work attended and compered many of such events; one thing that I find curious is the obsession with acknowledgements. If you are the compere at any typical Nigerian event, the organizers are bound to give you what they call a protocol list, usually a long list of persons whose presence must be acknowledged. You are also expected to recognise persons, especially if they are government officials, according to an established ranking order.

The Naira-Dollar Blues – By Reuben Abati

Reuben Abati has in his February 26 article on Guardian Newspaper, discussed the disturbing issue of exchange rate and epileptic strength of the Naira in a lighter mood. Continue reading…

Olajumoke Orisaguna: The Nigerian Cinderella – By Reuben Abati

About three weeks ago, 27-year old Olajumoke Orisaguna was a complete unknown on the streets of Lagos, hawking bread. A loaf of bread is about N100, and even with a full tray such as she carried in her first public embrace of fame, her whole ware for a day may not be more than N3,000, with daily profit between N300-N700. She had trained as a hair stylist, got married but had to leave her husband and a daughter back home in Ire, Osun state, to “hustle” as it were in Lagos. The life of a bread seller in Lagos is easily imaginable: exposure to the elements, to sundry abuse, including the possibility of being raped by unruly artisans and bachelors, who will offer to buy bread and something else along with it, if the hawker is willing. This was Olajumoke Orisaguna’s reality until she ran into TY Bello and Tinie Tempah and her life changed. Today, she has been enrolled as a model. Her story has appeared in all newspapers, on CNN, Huffington Post, and virtually everywhere online.

Reuben Abati Writes Again (Must Read)

See what your friends are writing” “Who?” “Your fellow columnists. See how they are attacking the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dambazau, just because an orderly helped to shine his shoes in public.” “I really don’t see what the hoopla is all about” “Me too”

Reuben Abati: Davido, Baby Mamas & Other Stories

Guardian Newspaper Columnist, Reuben Abati in his new article, talks about the drama created by Pop singer, David Adeleke, popularly called, Davido and his Babymama, Sophia Momodu. Continue reading… “What a relief, my friend!” “What are you relieved about?” “It is this David Adeleke and Sophia Momodu soap opera”. “I tell you. It is a perfect subject for a good home video. But what is your own?” “No. Nothing. I am just relieved that the parties involved have agreed to let peace reign” “This will be about the third time I would hear of that matter being resolved.”

Reuben Abati Goes Back To School

Dr Reuben Abati is now a student of Oxford,London. The former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan wrote.