The Ahmadu Bello University Student Representative Council (ABUSRC) has criticized Reuben Abati, President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman, for his verbal attack Nuhu Ribadu who last week presented a paper at the university. Mr. Abati’s fiery response suggested that the government regarded Mr. Ribadu’s paper as an attempt to take aim at Mr. Jonathan.

In a detailed statement, ABUSRC described Mr. Abati’s outburst as an embarrassment to Nigerians and the academic community.

Signed the ABUSRC’s president, Abubakar A. Rafindadi, the statement declared: “As an impeccably responsible students’ body, the Students’ Representative Council of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, notes with utter consternation and disappointment, the reaction by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati on a lecture delivered by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu during a One Day Public Lecture organized by ABUSRC on 8th June, 2013, in Assembly Hall of the Samaru Main Campus. With all due respect to the revered Presidency, the way and manner in which the Presidential Adviser came out and launched his characteristic campaign of calumny against perceived opponents to his boss, this time against Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in the national dailies, is very disheartening. It is also instructive to note that he did so on account of total misconstruction and deliberate distortion of the contents of the speech delivered by Ribadu.

“In the said lecture entitled ‘Political Engagement: A New Approach,’ Ribadu attempted to locate the role of all stakeholders in the Nigerian enterprise, particularly the youth, in rising up to the myriad challenges of national cohesion, entrenchment of democratic values, the increasingly rising tide of oligarchic tendencies in the nation’s politics, the divisive and exclusionist siren calls among parochial ethnic chauvinists, among other very important national issues including insecurity. We view as unfair as well as provocative, the statement credited to Abati by national dailies that ‘President Jonathan and his administration will not be distracted from the diligent implementation of the agenda by the falsehood and vituperations of Ribadu and his new friends’. It is disgustingly surprising that this statement was made as an attack on a paper presented which was tailored to address the aforementioned challenges.

“It is instructive to note that the lecture in question looked at Nigeria and its embarrassing predicaments, and not at any particular person or group. No mention was made of anybody’s name. Naturally, one wonders why the hoopla! In the lecture, this was, amongst others, what Ribadu said ‘...we need to come together to make our democracy work; let us drop any form of identity that introduces us as something other than ‘citizens’, and let us drop any citizenship that asks for anything other than ‘change’ for the better. Let us destroy any institution that preaches divisions and exclusions’. For goodness sake, fellow Nigerians, what is wrong with a paper (or for that matter, its author) that advocates for the much-sought-after ideals, as quoted above?

That Nigeria and Nigerians need take their destiny into their own hands is, in the opinion of ABUSRC, which is made up of true democrats, (and indeed the majority of well-meaning Nigerians), a right philosophy on the right track. Interestingly, this is the philosophy that pervades throughout the paper delivered by Mallam Ribadu.

“It is equally important to emphatically state here that the fact that Nigeria is in unfortunately ailing situation is not in doubt. Therefore, why should it become a crime when Nigerians are told that there is a problem with their dear country, with the intention that they may be spurred to wake up to clear the mess for the political and economic development which the nation badly needs?”

The students’ statement continued: “As true democrats, we strongly believe in intellectual exchange of ideas so as to move this nation and its nascent democracy forward. It will doubtless not augur well for this country and its politics when its leaders consider any attempt to enlighten the public politically as irresponsible and subversive. The ABUSRC believes in the great possibility of a greater Nigeria with the active participation of all and sundry, whether one is in government or not. In view of the above, we view as sine qua non for the achievement of the above goal, the entrenchment of freedom of speech which the Nigerian constitution guarantees. And it sounds paradoxical for a government that takes pride in ‘consistently (upholding) the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights’ to now come out berating a Nigerian who has lawfully expressed his opinion as guaranteed by the law of the land.

“On a final note, if Nigeria should move forward politically and otherwise (which we believe so), leaders should learn to tolerate opposition, allow the freedom of expression to be exercised and look at things in proper perspective. Decontextualizing issues for personal and/or political reasons will not help our drive for a more prosperous, egalitarian and united Nigeria.”

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/abu-students-describe-reuben-abati-national-embarrassment

You cannot blame Reuben Abati so much. When he was at Guardian, he was writing for the masses against the government. Those in power knew the solution. They called him to power so that he would have a share of the national cake. You know, when your mouth is full of cake, you can't really talk much.
And when you manage to talk, you will only talk in favour of the person who gave you the cake.
That is the law of” chopping”.
Seriously, I was surprised that Abati accepted the job of Presidential spokesperson.

Those students are babies and do not understand Mr Ribadu's intent.

BekeeBuAgbara: But UNN does not breed terrorists .

Give the names of the Nigerian universities that breed terrorists and the names of the (under)graduates.

I trust my guys no dey carry last for activism...go on guys!

DOES HE EVEN KNOW HOW MANY OF THE SOUTHERN LEADERS GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL

TouchDown:

Best to ignore the fool. Does he know how many Southerners and christians are in ABU?

Abalti ; Love of money ?

The caption shld av read:

ABU STUDENTS REMINDED US THAT ABATI IS A NATIONAL EMBARASSMENT

BekeeBuAgbara: But UNN does not breed terrorists .

and ABU does? The unrepentant prejudice you and others display is not helping matters at all.

Am in TOTAL support of the resolution of ABU students.

teniyi:
So how many of the terrorist were from ABU?

na wa fo you o ango abdullahi , mallam nasir elrufai and so on

See SRC members talking about democracy and constitutionalism, whereas they are the sign post of malpractice and irregularities! None of the ABU SRC members can vouch that he was elected to the post through free and fair means. Most of these students' representatives are cultists or being fronted by a cult group if they are not yet a member. It's paradoxical that they are preaching about democratic ideals and so on. They should lead by example and he who lives in glass house should not throw stone

mike404: na wa fo you o ango abdullahi , mallam nasir elrufai and so on

So also is Michael Afolagbo a.k.a Mujahideen.

BekeeBuAgbara: But UNN does not breed terrorists .

And which school breed terrorist?
Must you comment at all?

teskyg: Face your study Islamic terrorist.Your born to rule mentality has forever been changed by GEJ.You all can rant and wail be it Ribadu,El-Rufai,Buhari,and other frustrated murderers from your self inflicted poverty ravaged Northern Nigeria

You are very d.a.f.t who says the ABUSRC is made up of muslims alone. ABU is a free community like any other institution in Nigeria and made up students from all over the country. With people like you there is no hope for Nigeria becoming the type of nation desired by our founding fathers.

Its unfortunate dat social networks accepts all sort of people dat are uninformed y wil u call ABU students terrorist do u know hw many southerners in dat sch? Nd again no matter hw foolish some youths cud be are u telling mi d ABU students has not made a valid point? Nd one uninformed wil call d students babies wat a disgrace t his family! Nd until we talk objectively in dis country wen wil put enthnic, religious sentiments apart we cannot move forward as a nation.for abati his days are numbered because he wil b made a scapegoat eventually.

Let's forget about the school. It has nothing to do with the issue,and you people should stop fighting yourselves. There is too much HATRED in we Nigerians. Almost turning me reading your comments into a timed-bomb. Well,I won't explode like some others have done. @ the topic: truth is the students are allowing themselves to be used in issues they know nothing about,the man is just using them and at the end of the day,he will dump them. They too should be careful of their uttrances,else they become worse than the so-called Abati. P/S: learn to address issues without pointing to Tribe,Region,Religion and the way of the people.

Brimmie: The Ahmadu Bello University Student Representative Council (ABUSRC) has criticized Reuben Abati, President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman, for his verbal attack Nuhu Ribadu who last week presented a paper at the university. Mr. Abati’s fiery response suggested that the government regarded Mr. Ribadu’s paper as an attempt to take aim at Mr. Jonathan.

In a detailed statement, ABUSRC described Mr. Abati’s outburst as an embarrassment to Nigerians and the academic community.

Signed the ABUSRC’s president, Abubakar A. Rafindadi, the statement declared: “As an impeccably responsible students’ body, the Students’ Representative Council of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, notes with utter consternation and disappointment, the reaction by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati on a lecture delivered by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu during a One Day Public Lecture organized by ABUSRC on 8th June, 2013, in Assembly Hall of the Samaru Main Campus. With all due respect to the revered Presidency, the way and manner in which the Presidential Adviser came out and launched his characteristic campaign of calumny against perceived opponents to his boss, this time against Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in the national dailies, is very disheartening. It is also instructive to note that he did so on account of total misconstruction and deliberate distortion of the contents of the speech delivered by Ribadu.

“In the said lecture entitled ‘Political Engagement: A New Approach,’ Ribadu attempted to locate the role of all stakeholders in the Nigerian enterprise, particularly the youth, in rising up to the myriad challenges of national cohesion, entrenchment of democratic values, the increasingly rising tide of oligarchic tendencies in the nation’s politics, the divisive and exclusionist siren calls among parochial ethnic chauvinists, among other very important national issues including insecurity. We view as unfair as well as provocative, the statement credited to Abati by national dailies that ‘President Jonathan and his administration will not be distracted from the diligent implementation of the agenda by the falsehood and vituperations of Ribadu and his new friends’. It is disgustingly surprising that this statement was made as an attack on a paper presented which was tailored to address the aforementioned challenges.

“It is instructive to note that the lecture in question looked at Nigeria and its embarrassing predicaments, and not at any particular person or group. No mention was made of anybody’s name. Naturally, one wonders why the hoopla! In the lecture, this was, amongst others, what Ribadu said ‘...we need to come together to make our democracy work; let us drop any form of identity that introduces us as something other than ‘citizens’, and let us drop any citizenship that asks for anything other than ‘change’ for the better. Let us destroy any institution that preaches divisions and exclusions’. For goodness sake, fellow Nigerians, what is wrong with a paper (or for that matter, its author) that advocates for the much-sought-after ideals, as quoted above?

That Nigeria and Nigerians need take their destiny into their own hands is, in the opinion of ABUSRC, which is made up of true democrats, (and indeed the majority of well-meaning Nigerians), a right philosophy on the right track. Interestingly, this is the philosophy that pervades throughout the paper delivered by Mallam Ribadu.

“It is equally important to emphatically state here that the fact that Nigeria is in unfortunately ailing situation is not in doubt. Therefore, why should it become a crime when Nigerians are told that there is a problem with their dear country, with the intention that they may be spurred to wake up to clear the mess for the political and economic development which the nation badly needs?”

The students’ statement continued: “As true democrats, we strongly believe in intellectual exchange of ideas so as to move this nation and its nascent democracy forward. It will doubtless not augur well for this country and its politics when its leaders consider any attempt to enlighten the public politically as irresponsible and subversive. The ABUSRC believes in the great possibility of a greater Nigeria with the active participation of all and sundry, whether one is in government or not. In view of the above, we view as sine qua non for the achievement of the above goal, the entrenchment of freedom of speech which the Nigerian constitution guarantees. And it sounds paradoxical for a government that takes pride in ‘consistently (upholding) the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights’ to now come out berating a Nigerian who has lawfully expressed his opinion as guaranteed by the law of the land.

“On a final note, if Nigeria should move forward politically and otherwise (which we believe so), leaders should learn to tolerate opposition, allow the freedom of expression to be exercised and look at things in proper perspective. Decontextualizing issues for personal and/or political reasons will not help our drive for a more prosperous, egalitarian and united Nigeria.”

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/abu-students-describe-reuben-abati-national-embarrassment

This is a very poor write-up though; Looks like something written by Technical College students.

BekeeBuAgbara: But UNN does not breed terrorists .

dn mention names of school dat breed terroists , m.oron