Saharareporters is reporting that Gej has hired Doyin Okupe as SSA Public Affairs. Is it game up for Reuben Abati?

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati has been effectively sidelined, with the Presidency hiring Ogun-state born medical doctor, Doyin Okupe, to handle President Goodluck Jonathan’s publicity. Mr. Okupe’s designation is as a senior special assistant on public affairs. One source revealed that Mr. Okupe is being brought in to act as attack dog against critics of the president and his wife.

Our sources within Aso Rock disclosed that the personnel shake-up came at the instance of First Lady Patience Jonathan who bitterly complained that Mr. Abati was not doing a satisfactory job of shielding her as well as her husband from media attacks.

One source revealed that Mrs. Jonathan had been fuming over a recent spate of media attacks targeted at her. The media, civil society activists as well as opposition political parties have recently pummeled Mrs. Jonathan for accepting an absurd appointment as a permanent secretary in Bayelsa State and the naming of an Abuja street after her.

More recently, she has faced a barrage of criticism for squandering billions of naira of public funds to buy 200 expensive cars for a jamboree of African First Ladies in Abuja.

At first, the Presidency responded by stating that the cars were donated by Cocharis Motors. However, the story developed into an evolving scandal when the car dealer insisted that the cars were purchased, but declined to disclose who paid for the automobiles.

“The attacks over the cars finally overwhelmed Madam [Mrs. Jonathan], and she blamed her image troubles on Dr. Abati’s incompetence,” said a source. He added that Mrs. Jonathan then demanded that Mr. Okupe, a medical doctor who served as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s spokesman, be brought in to take charge of the Presidency’s image management. “The impression is that Dr. Abati has been too soft and has committed too many blunders in his attempts to defend the president and his wife,” said one source.

One source said Mr. Abati’s role may now be a sinecure, with diminishing importance in the president’s media strategy. Mr. Okupe, who has held several political posts and once eyed the Ogun State governorship, will assume primary responsibility for managing the image of the president and his wife.

Another source in Aso Rock told SaharaReporters, “Dr. Abati is a victim of a rumpus in the Villa over the 200 cars. The First Lady protested to the president on Wednesday evening over the bad publicity. She queried the relevance of the presidential media team, headed by Dr. Reuben Abati.
She insisted on immediate overhaul of the presidential media and publicity crew. The president now decided to move to hire an attack dog as a senior special assistant on public affairs.”

One source explained that Mr. Abati further infuriated Mrs. Jonathan when he tried to argue that it was the duty of her media team to handle her publicity affairs.

A Presidency source who witnessed Mrs. Jonathan’s fury told SaharaReporters that “The First Lady was close to tears as she desperately declared her innocence. She said, ‘I did not award any contract, I did not buy any car. Why are they writing this about me? And nobody in the media team could defend me and my family. Those coming for our meeting are not up to 200 First Ladies, but then they say I bought 200 cars.’”

The source said all the presidential aides who were around at the time the First Lady delivered her tirade were speechless.

Two sources told us that the Presidency decided that it was time to bring in somebody who is willing to act as an attack dog in the same way that Femi Fani-Kayode did for former President Obasanjo.

“Fani-Kayode would have been brought in, but he has been a big attacker of the president. So the president decided to approach Dr. Okupe,” said one source.

Mr. Abati, a former columnist and editorial page editor for the (Nigerian) Guardian, and Mr. Okupe share something in common: they are both indigenes of Ogun State.

A source who knows Mr. Okupe described him as needing “urgent financial rehabilitation” after a series of political woes. The source added that the Presidency has decided it “it has had enough of these attacks from the opposition. It is now fire-for-fire.”

http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/abati-sidelined-mrs-jonathan-fumes-over-bad-publicity-okupe-hired-attack-dog

Doyin cube??I dey laff.Even if GEJ appoints Larry King,the press will still mess him cos he takes silly,ill timed and undefendable decisions!

full time politician.He needs all the pubilicity to accelerate his own ambitions

Clueless retardeen again? This man has suddenly became an over night celebrity due to his clueless ill timed decision.. Doyin ko Knorr Ni....lol.. Lol.. Lol...

Can't remember how Doyin Okupe fared with OBJ but I recall he left abrubtly

Don't believe this SAHARA ANIMALS

Sahara or is it Kilimanjaro Reporters. I am fvcking tired of reading cat and bull stories from you.

I nominate BEAF cuz he's always in Attack mode.

40man laptop squard ... Also to be overhauled

Doyin Okupe service under abacha govt..

Na him sabi

LOL @ some people's comment. GEJ is never right to many of you. It's terrible!

Read These! After Aborting 3 Times For Him, He's Set To Marry Another Lady This Month.

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just wondering if this will in any way affect the 40 man laptop crew

I wonder why nigeria politicians are greedy dey wuld always seek for apointment dis mugu served in abacha's govt.....
he was obasanjo's aid now his back recycled wit same mentaly-we need revolution what is the diference between his job and dat of stupid rueben who used to critices jeg on his newspaper?I wonder why nigeria politicians are greedy dey wuld always seek for apointment dis mugu served in abacha's govt.....
he was obasanjo's aid now his back recycled wit same mentaly-we need revolution what is the diference between his job and dat of stupid rueben who used to critices jeg on his newspaper?I wonder why nigeria politicians are greedy dey wuld always seek for apointment dis mugu served in abacha's govt.....
he was obasanjo's aid now his back recycled wit same mentaly-we need revolution what is the diference between his job and dat of stupid rueben who used to critices jeg on his newspaper?

Doyin served under obasanjo regime and not abacha...but seriously thinking this decision is kind of absurd, everybody calls him 'the retardeen' or 'clueless' its sad but he keeps making funny decisions!

Just a way to let him also have some piece of the National cake under him (GEJ). Just wondering if he will be doing something different from what the Info Minister (Maku) and Abati have been doing for him.

Whether Abati is sidelined or not, is it Kilimanjaro Sahara Reporters Business ?

na_joke: just wondering if this will in any way affect the 40 man laptop crew

What's with the 40 man lap crew?

I dont knw abt y'al sayin saharareporter is dope buh am goin wit dem al d way.they get the news first and others follow.y'al shd wait and see what the dailies wil com out wit.ALL THESE 40 LAPTOPS FOLKS PLS GET A LIFE....U GUYS ARE SICKENIN

na_joke: just wondering if this will in any way affect the 40 man laptop crew

There's more opening. 60 more laptop men are needed. Here is an opportunity you shouldnt joke with

The issues of coscharis and 200 cars had brought confusion, all the blames has now been shifted to abati's file,if truly 200 cars were not bought why wud they have to sideline abati...

nasty45: I dont knw abt y'al sayin saharareporter is dope buh am goin wit dem al d way.they get the news first and others follow.y'al shd wait and see what the dailies wil com out wit.ALL THESE 40 LAPTOPS FOLKS PLS GET A LIFE....U GUYS ARE SICKENIN

never you mind the PDP warriors

Vigilante: More recently, she has faced a barrage of criticism for squandering billions of naira of public funds to buy 200 expensive cars for a jamboree of African First Ladies in Abuja.

At first, the Presidency responded by stating that the cars were donated by Cocharis Motors. However, the story developed into an evolving scandal when the car dealer insisted that the cars were purchased, but declined to disclose who paid for the automobiles.

“The attacks over the cars finally overwhelmed Madam [Mrs. Jonathan], and she blamed her image troubles on Dr. Abati’s incompetence,” said a source. He added that Mrs. Jonathan then demanded that Mr. Okupe, a medical doctor who served as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s spokesman, be brought in to take charge of the Presidency’s image management. “The impression is that Dr. Abati has been too soft and has committed too many blunders in his attempts to defend the president and his wife,” said one source.

What are they saying now, was the cars bought or hired? that what i want to know i don't care who he hired to clean up his shameful act in the public

Kilimanjaro Reporters are on the Payroll of the daemons, so they are always there to pass blames. Now Kilimanjaro, whats the issue with you if Abati is sidelined.

[color=#990000][/color]gej hmmmmmmmm[b]gej hmmmmmmmm[/b]gej hmmmmmmmm

Madam and presido should know that bad market na bad market anyday. Who do they even take us for? A bunch of dummies or what? I'm really sick of this God forsaking country where absurdity is the order of the day. What a pity!

Is this not thesame Doyin Okupe that OBJ fired unannounced because of some "funny" acts of his? I hope GEJ is not taking irrational decision because of his wife? If he wants to change Abati, why not chop for another replacement. We have capable guys who can deliver, must it be thesame old recycled criminals?....SMH for Nigeria...God will help us!

You dont need to hire anyone to defend your course if you're on the right track. Posterity will!

Come to think of it, another person has been added to the payroll. Bogus allowance and salary that should have been channelled to better the lives of nigerians.
GEJ, time will tell!



Frawzey

Odunnu:
There's more opening. 60 more laptop men are needed. Here is an opportunity you shouldnt joke with

Really....(updating CV) can someone help out with Beaf's or Billyonaire email add.

@Beaf & Billyonaire
My best friends
my broda's from anoda mama
will soon send my CV to u guys

Oh i forgot.....i can work with or without supervision o!

Dr. Okupe and Reuben Abati vs over 160million Nigerians. It's not balanced atall. I think Gej needs to hire more media assistants.

Alamutatalo: Doyin cube??I dey laff.Even if GEJ appoints Larry King,the press will still mess him cos he takes silly,ill timed and undefendable decisions!

Yes, A bad workman blames his tools. The solution is not in changing the damage control outlets. The president and his Royal household have to stop the blunders and serve the people's interest. I have no sympathy for Obati who must have accumulated some personal loot by now. He can actually leave now, richer in monetary terms but much poorer in public image and respect compared to when he went to work for the clueless government.