As fresh crisis surrounding the health of the First Lady Mrs. Patience Jonathan brews, the presidency has fired her spokesman, Mr. Ayo Osinlu. The news is contained in a press release issued by the president’s Special Assistant on the Media, Dr. Reuben Abati.

Sahara-reporters sources say that the decision to fire Mr. Osinlu was taken by the First Lady from her hospital bed in Europe. Mrs. Patience Jonathan was mad at the inability of Mr. Osinlu to provide a foolproof decoy of a story to distract the media from her current medical surgeon abroad.

Mr. Osinlu was roundly criticized for the way he handled the news about the whereabouts of the First Lady last year. During the period, Mr. Osinlu told journalists that the First Lady went to Germany on vacation but Mrs. Jonathan later confirmed the story published by Saharareporters that she was hospitalized in Germany for weeks.

Our sources in Abuja said that the presidency felt that Mr. Osinlu had lost credibility with the media establishment and that the First Lady needed a heavy hitter the way the president recruited Dr. Doyin Okupe to strengthen his media team that was once in disarray.

All efforts by Saharareporters to reach Mr. Osinlu by phone and text failed.

In the press release, the presidency named Rudolf Okonkwo as the new spokesman of the wife of the President. “Mr. Okonkwo,” the release says, “has a good understanding of social media and the internet world and will use those skills to counter the barrage of lies being peddled by some disgruntled Nigerians on the web about the person of our First Lady.”

Until his new appointment Mr. Okonkwo was a columnist for Saharareporters.com and the host of Dr. Damages Show. His satirical show routinely makes fun of the First Lady as well as mine President Jonathan’s utterances to create an unflattering portrayal of the president.

Since the announcement all efforts to reach Mr. Okonkwo by phone and text has failed. Saharareporters cannot ascertain his whereabouts at press time.

A friend of Mr. Okonkwo told Saharareporters.com that he was not surprised at Mr. Okonkwo’s acceptance of this position in a government he had roundly condemned. “The man is as poor as a church rat and I knew it was a matter of time before he jumped ship,” he said. “He is following the lead of the likes of Reuben Abati and Femi Fani-Kayode. They are all shameless hypocrites.”

The move to appoint Mr. Okonkwo as Mrs. Jonathan’s spokesman is seen by some Aso Rock observers as “a coup” of some sort as one of voices critical of Jonathan’s administration will effectively be silenced.

Speaking to our correspondent, an Abuja based editor who pleaded anonymity said that he doubted if this appointment would work. “Rudolf Okonkwo was at one time a promising journalist,” he said. “But right now, for all intents and purposes, he is just a clown. You don’t use a clown to defend another clown.”


The Abuja editor went on to say, “I hope this is just an April Fools’ joke.”


mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/first-lady-patience-jonathan-fires-her-spokesman-appoints-us-based-satirist-media-aide

lol, nice one Dr Damages

Lmao.. Funny story showing how chameleonic and unprincipled most Nigerians are... They critique when they're hungry, however, they change their tune once they start eating and getting fat...

Like they say: "The way to a man's heart is his stomach."

Ermmm.... Delete that...

The right quote: "The way to a Nigerian's heart is his stomach."

That's more like it...

Until Pacie talk on her return...nothing should be believed! don't be a learner.

shymexx: Lmao.. Funny story showing how chameleonic and unprincipled most Nigerians are... They critique when they're hungry, however, they change their tune once they start eating and getting fat...

Like they say: "The way to a man's heart is his stomach."

Ermmm.... Delete that...

The right quote: "The way to a Nigerian's heart is his stomach."

That's more like it...

Everyone has got a price...it may not be financial. The contacts, networking and exposure that can be achieved at that level of government can only be imagined! Having sad that, why should he refuse the appointment? Being a spokesman in the presidency is just like every reporting job...sometimes u exaggerate, withhold infos, etc Congrats to Okonkwo on this great feat!

Is this an April fool joke?

got nufffin to comment for now cos it seems like aprill fool riddles untill i find it to be truth.....

ganye1: Is this an April fool joke?

Off course it is! Are you a learner?

ganye1: Is this an April fool joke?

Its the best April Fool's joke I've read so far today.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/180447_ROTFLMAO_gif3d0c775232c7f27cf80592785b9635b6

Nicely cooked up April fool joke.

I had already fallen for this. Smh

I just don't know why i have been refusing to believe every news. Had known before reading the news that it isn't meant for me.

Okupe for don dey sheet for pant

Another critic down next are take dat,demdem,eko Atlantic and so on.dis makes me remember d thread Rossike opened dat if u are offerd abati's job will u accept or decline it,so many people ignored d thread and those dat answerd were sentimental so dis is just an example.pls does any1 has contact of aso rock i also need d job at into our system dat at d right price 99% of gej nairaland critics will accept d job without second thought EVEN IF ITS JUST APRIL FOOL

A well-crafted April fool joke!

April foolzzzzz

See how some fools fell for the 'fool' thing. The source posted is a decoy and yet some fools you think are smart fell for it... Happy fool's day to the fools o...

clear april fool

Trust most Nigerians to nack their head on the ground over this info. IT IS A JOKE OOOO BEFORE YOU START BLOWING GRAMMAR

In Nigeria, people only criticize the govt of the day in order to get appointments; the critics usually turn out to be job-seekers, who are worse off than those they use their pen against...smh. Examples of such individuals like Fani Kayode, Reuben Abati etc abound

Ruldorf okonkwo and patience jonathan,who wore it better?

Nice one.

I saw the headline and immediately knew that it's an April fools' joke. I started reading the article and. . . .could this be true? Then I saw "Rudolph Okonkwo". . .definitely an April fools' joke.

Dis sounds so true, bt i knw is an April Fool.

Annie2gud: Ruldorf okonkwo and patience jonathan,who wore it better?

hnmmmmm... Patience Jonathan na mama 2fyn o, she 2 fyn, she gave us plenty grammers she 2 gud, grammer sweet wel wel she 2 gud...

Power miss road!

haay..h
this is higest among apriel fool i have ever read
9ja una no go kill person

Hey ya

If this is not a joke,which I have every reason to believe it isn't, then this man has just done what majority of Nigerians would do. Let's face it,most of the so-called critics in Naija are disgruntled political elements who just make fun of the present government because they are not part of it. Give them a share of the national cake and well,alls forgiven.its just a pity that some nigerians will allow themselves to be fooled into believing this people really care

its april 1st. right?