By Lawrence Nwobu

The appointment of Reuben Abati as federal government spokes-person and his hasty acceptance of that  ignoble post, which in effect makes him the chief  spin-master  and defender of a federal  government that  thrives on deceit  and whose main purpose in governance  is the massive looting and consequent dehumanisation of  her own citizens came as no surprise.
The red flag was raised a while ago that Abati was in an intense lobby for a government position when he wrote a ten- part article on the Jonathan Presidency. The article was a well rehearsed display of sycophancy designed to market himself to the presidency for a government post from whence he can join the cabal of executive robbers in the infamous looting of the  nations coffers.

[b]I know that some would argue that accepting an offer  to  serve  as Abati  has done, could be an opportunity for a critic to bring the change he has variously written about on the simple logic that if all good men stay away from service,  the change we all crave will never come. Yet that logic falls flat on its face in Abati’s case for the simple fact that he will not be managing any ministry, state,  board or parastatal  where he  can  directly implement  transformative  reforms.  Unlike a  parastatal like NAFDAC where Dr  Dora  Akunyili was able to introduce transformative reforms  or  the ministry of Finance where Dr Ngozi  Iweala was able to implement  her programs of debt cancellation during the erstwhile Olusegun Obasanjo administration,  Abati’s   role  as government  spokes-person  is purely and simply a government propagandist  that spins  the fairy tales of deceit from the presidency  from which capacity he has no bearing  to implement any change.   This is a fact which Reuben Abati himself must have known before accepting that position out of greed and crass opportunism.[/b]

But  beyond  Reuben Abati’s  paradoxical  acceptance of  a government  position   that clearly contradicts  his  long years of caustic  criticism lies the real issues of hypocrisy and opportunism which has led to the death of the Nigerian media.  Nigerian journalists have since become seasoned hypocrites and opportunists who send critical anti-government articles from their stables on a regular basis only to end up jumping into the same government at the slightest opportunity.  Once in government,  they become apologists   of  the  same government  they  had spent years criticising.  This has had the effect of diminishing any pressure such critical articles could ordinarily have exerted on the government  as every journalist is now seen as a rabble rousing opportunist  hypocrite who is only criticising because he has not been offered a position in government.




In other parts of the world, journalists are ideological professionals with an unwavering commitment to the struggle for social justice.  Jumping into government as is the case with Nigerian  opportunist journalists  is unheard off. They remain at their stables in most cases as a lifelong venture, holding the government accountable to the citizens. Journalism is a noble profession and has remained so in   saner climes populated  by rational persons,  but in Nigeria the same destructive factors have not surprisingly  devoured  the profession and  populated it  with opportunistic charlatans who use their stables as a means of negotiating their way into government for self serving purposes. Thus, in accepting a government position,  Reuben  Abati  has only acted in the true traditions of  hypocrisy and opportunism for which  Nigerian  journalists and media have  become infamous.

Another issue that demands close examination is Abati’s actual moral  fitness  for a  government appointment.  Nigeria needs nation builders not bigots. Reuben Abati  has written many articles in the past which bothered clearly on ethnic bigotry.  On several occasions he abused his position as a senior editor and later chairman of the editorial board of the Guardian newspapers  by writing hate-filled  articles. In  France, Rwanda  and  other serious nations,  racist or ethnic insults incur jail terms.  Abati’s  bigoted  articles  would  be enough to end  his career and send him to jail in saner  climes but he escaped scrutiny and got away with such narrow mindedness,  irresponsibility and  abuse, because Nigeria is a self destructive mockery of a nation. 

The   government on its own part has a responsibility to exhaustively verify the backgrounds of individuals before appointing them to government.  A narrow minded bigot adds no value and is least desired in a deeply diverse nation like Nigeria that faces increasing challenges from her ethnic and religious contradictions.  But it comes as no surprise that on one hand Reuben Abati somersaults from his pretentious criticisms of the government to accept a position that defends the same government and on the other hand the government appoints a journalist who has a background in bigotry, after all both Abati and the federal  government are immoral  birds of a feather who must necessarily flock together .

http://article/reuben-abati-government-critic-apologist

I agree with the writer based on the bolded, what do you think?

I'm beginning to have this uncanny feeling that some (if not many) of these journalists or so-called human activists deliberately start out with the sole aim of being offered some post in government.

They start by criticizing the government with well-researched facts and 'pretend' to be pro-masses in order to gain ascendancy after which, on being offered some position, they abandon the fleeting cause they took upon themselves in preference to lining their pockets. This appears to be their modus operandi.

With this background, and as pointed out by the writer that Mr Abati has accepted a position from which he can effect no change, the pattern that is emerging in the country is unsettling. In all, the problems of Nigeria are getting more and more complicated by the day.

Pukkah:

I'm beginning to have this uncanny feeling that some (if not many) of these journalists or so-called human activists deliberately start out with the sole aim of being offered some post in government.

Everyone desire a better place in life.

Okay, but do not pretend as if you are fighting for the masses or doing them a favour.

Bla bla bla. And who wld the writer rather have as spokesperson? A certified criminal so we all can wave aside the minute he opens his mouth to speak?
Every govt wld have to implement tough policies and make unpopular decisions and its ability to sell its idea and intentions to the public wld be critical to its intentions and how it's perceived by the governed. Abati as a respected columnist that built a followership few (if any) in the entire history of this country can claim to have done is about the most qualified man out there to fulfil such a critical role. If being a govt spokesman equates telling lies and spinning the truth to the writer, then so be it. I'm tired of reading silly and maliciously preconceived articles all in the name of wanting the best for Nigeria. Rubbish.

highland:


Everyone desire a better place in life.

Yeah, but it is morally wrong to be a hypocrite.

maclatunji:

Okay, but do not pretend as if you are fighting for the masses or doing them a favour.

Exactly.

Mr. Ajonouma gets company.

Man must wack na even broS Abati need am mtchEeeeeeeeeew bloody chameleon

Rueben abati is nothing but a hypocrite.yesterday he was condeming the pdp government today he is eating and dining with them.

you guys forgotten those jonathan bags of money and samsung galaxies?

this man was throwing darts and arrows at the delta state inauguration lecture just some months ago. anyway, wise men say. the best way to shut a critic up is by giving him a job" which is exactly what GEJ did and less than a week into it. he seems to have shed his 'social crusader' skin

No I Disagree!!!
Its from an attention seeker to a sycophant.
But seriously the problem of Nigeria is that of sycophancy. Hunger too dey so man must wack

must_a_far:

this man was throwing darts and arrows at the delta state inauguration lecture just some months ago. anyway, wise men say. the best way to shut a critic up is by giving him a job" which is exactly what GEJ did and less than a week into it. he seems to have shed his 'social crusader' skin

Are u sure u watched the lecture? He gave constructive criticisms and proffered solutions and had absolutely no reason to throw darts or whatever, he was the guest speaker for God's sake. If u want to castigate him, by all means do so, go ahead and join the bandwagon afterall its the latest fad, but dont accuse him of what he didnt do. No be only u dey watch TV.

Just like Fani-kayode,he may end up as a minister very soon.

Seriously
It is obvious anyone justifying Odechukwu can't be rational.
It is obvious it is Reuben Abati's turn to be used and humiliated.
Shameless thing

Abati was said to be involve in collecting land in abuja for favour. I dont know how true. But Abati is not a critic of government and have never been before. how can you call abati radical.

Once in government, they become apologists of the same government they had spent years criticising. This has had the effect of diminishing any pressure such critical articles could ordinarily have exerted on the government as every journalist is now seen as a rabble rousing opportunist hypocrite who is only criticising because he has not been offered a position in government.


true

long story na criti abati go chop
you mr lawrence if they offer you the same job,will you reject it ?
let abati be joor

Bayo Ojo and Fani Kayode did thesame thing.

time will tell

hbrednic:

long story na criti abati go chop
you mr lawrence if they offer you the same job,will you reject it ?
let abati be joor

seconded

The man has been invited to "come and eat". Make una leave the man, he has to make a living, the guy is getting close to retirement and he just realized feeding would be a challenge after that. Newspaper columns and TV appearances doesn't pay the bills in Nigeria.

Odechukwus spokeman interpreting the mind of a reetardeen must be a demanding job

Abati!

You criticize the Government on your Guardian Friday columns with intriguing conversing style.
You make fun of our First Lady's impeccable English.

Yet, you join them! Kai! What a betrayal.

Its like seeing Wole Soyinka becoming Jonathans aide! Its ridiculous and egregious!
This just shows that Nigerians are Hypocrites! Including nairalanders who criticize everything.

I met Reuben sometimes around 2002 and asked him why they do not criticize government enough. His answer was that they also do not want to die.

He passes as a big sycophant to me. He is just a cheat.

Opportunist that sold dull and clueless GEJ to us.

Now they want to eat us dry.

One should be able to identify a barking dog that mean business or not. i stop ready his articles long ago

This writer is an enemy of progress!!Because your friend has moved a step further you came up with meaningless article.Pray,God will surely do your own.If Abati really want,he can be agent of change, What i perceive from this write-up is jealous,hatred

i see this a good development and opportunity to bring his long years of media experience to bear.


He is skillful.

Thanks

Reuben Abati