I guess I should commence this rejoinder by confessing that the uproar raised by my 'involvement' in the Abuja land allocation by the ex-Minister Modibo to the EFCC strongwoman and others including top editors of my generation had pricked my conscience. For many decades I have been practising journalism (which has culminated in my reaching the zenith of the noble profession in the Guardian) I have never been associated with any scandal of this kind, one publicly revealed by an 'opposition' online news source, 'SaharaRaporters'. Of course Omoyele Sowore, my friend, and his anonymous reporters must have believed stumbling on a 'scoop' with the sole aim of tarnishing the good images of those mentioned in the so-called land 'deal' on their minds as they went about publishing same. I salute them all for their efforts and bear no grudges!

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.comLet me declare here without any equivocation that I am neither shocked nor perturbed by the furore the report has generated within Nigeria and elsewhere outside our shores thus far. Whoever thinks that I am having sleepless nights over the exposé is deceiving himself or herself. But I must say nevertheless that I never knew before now that I had many detractors cum 'enemies' who are now feeding fat over a non-issue. I decided to remain silent before now to be able to come to terms with the limits of people's anger and indignation and the capacity of man to over-reach himself in matters that ordinarily should not be his business.

If the former Minister of the FCT decided, in his sound judgement, to reward patriotic citizens like us who have the courage to remind government of their responsibilities and failings what is the fuss about that? Even if we fight against the ills of the society including corruption through our media outfits does that preclude us from receiving government's largesse? The land gift we received had no strings attached to it, so we shall continue to criticise where criticism is called for and commend where commendation becomes necessary. It is not everybody in government that is corrupt or evil. We have those we can safely brand as 'paragons' even when we have many of their opposites within!

Apart from my parents who sent me to school it is only the Ibru family and God that can demand for any personal account from me or my transaction with those wielding power, some of whom are my friends. It is therefore ludicrous for some mortals operating mainly in the internet to want to put me down. While some are seeking attention through my name others are unhappy about my journalistic excellence; I refused to dignify their rantings with a response but for some passionate appeals from well-meaning Nigerians at home and abroad.

In Nigeria we often hear of people working hard without a good pay packet. We often hear about pensioners dying while waiting for the peanuts they took home as pension. In a nation where millionaires and billionaires are churned out daily by hook or by crook it is strikingly baffling how people expect me not to join the bandwagon of the rich and powerful. Journalists the world over do their job for fame and reward. Some are stupendously rich by the strenght of their characters, connections and 'right deals'. Others are living fairly well and waiting for mother luck to smile on them.

I never bargained for any land with anybody but it is not good as an African (and above all as a Yoruba elite) to reject a gift given without any condition attached -- and if one was attached then it is not to my knowledge. When the ex-Minister released the list of the land allotees and my name was included my happiness knew no bounds. That meant that those in authorities recognised the sharpness of one's pen and the power of readership one wields as a national and international columnist.

The damage control measures I had smartly applied seems to have failed me spectacularly. The hard-core critics are not impressed and they are hardening up their positions of antagonism. By writing studiously about the scammers that had wanted to play a fast one on me and my friends, the police and their raped Queen, the 'goat-robber' of Ilorin, and the St. Valentine of love and lust I had sought to comically relieve my detractors of their frustrations. But they are not pacified, rather they have kept up the pressure asking probing questions about the Abuja land with my hard-earned reputation doing the Naira dance of fluctuation.

Is it a crime for prominent journalists to be officially recognised and rewarded for their patriotic contributions to national development? Is Olusegun Adeniyi not doing well as President Yar'Adua's spokesman? Or other journalists in the state capitals providing their loyal services to the 'oppressors' we had collectively condemned yesterday? Does common sense not dictate that if you cannot beat the system (or change same outrightly) you join the system? Why are people not minding their businesses?

The inglorious era of wretched journalists or poor journalism is gone for good! We do remember with pathetic nostalgia when journalists would go to Oshodi market for suit and shoes or struggle for apartment in Ajegunle with thugs ('Area Boys' if you like). Now we are proud owners of choice plots of land, bungalows; we ride in modern cars and buy our attires in the best boutiques in choice capitals of the West: London, Paris New York!

I sincerely wish to thank those brave internet warriors (apologies to Prof. Pat Utomi) for standing up on my behalf to the malicious critics seeking my downfall. Special mention goes to 'Tonsoyo', my defender-in-chief, for his remarkable capacity as an 'Abati-abater'. His resilience has impressed me very much indeed! His reward awaits him the moment he steps his feet on the Nigerian soil and signals his presence at Rutam House.

Please someone should tell the glorified holier-than-thou critics like Rudolf Okonkwo, SOC Okenwa, Taju Tijani, Wale Akin, Okpia Egbe, Osita Mba and others to wait for their own turn. Whenever government remembers them (as I have deservedly been remembered) and decides to give them their own plots of land I swear by my grand mother's grave never to do any commentary on that. I shall overlook that for other dramatic things happening daily in our great nation whose full potentials has never been realised.

To conclude I crave your indulgence friends and well-wishers far and near. My major concern here is not found in the controversy sorrounding my latest material acquisition. Rather my apprehension stems from the fact that by taking legal possession of the parcel of land in our federal capital city I should soon start putting up a befitting country home. However upon completion of the building one is worried that another crazy dimunitive FCT Minister in the mould of El-Rufai could be appointed and acting dutifully on petitions, demolition of the structure like that of our own 'Chemical' Ali could well set in; or another EFCC Chair like Ribadu replacing Mrs Waziri could happen and setting off an investigation of yours sncerely's precious gift in this regard.

I promise my faithful readers around the world one thing: I will be as critically analytical as before, as pungent as ever. I have neither 'sold out' to the oppressors nor allowed them to compromise my position against corruption, a cankerworm tearing down our national edifice. Remain mobilized everyone for the struggle ahead is a tasking one.

Biowande:



Does common sense not dictate that if you cannot beat the system (or change same outrightly) you join the system? Why are people not minding their businesses?

I beg to disagree with this statement.

Biowande:


Apart from my parents who sent me to school it is only the Ibru family and God that can demand for any personal account from me or my transaction with those wielding power, some of whom are my friends.

I disagree, We the readers of your column, members of the Public can hold anybody operating in the Public realm accountable, Herein Lies the problem with the Nigerian Leadership,

Source?

I'll reserve my comments till I have seen the original source of this.

I guess this abati is the same guy that is always very loud on patito's show having a go at the system, while himself is being lured into the free galore of sharing the country's resources with impunity and he has the guts to defend it as opportunity once lost can never be regained.He wouldn't do any better if he finds himself in the position of absolute power like we have in nigeria

I  have always known that the main stream journalism in nigeria is seriously under the spell of the system.Chop,i chop and clean mouth.The only saving grace for the people is the internet,free flow of independent and genuine informations that can mobilize and redeem lives.

When the allegation came up, I thought it was another attempt by his jealous collaegues to smear the guy's name. He has now personally confirmed it, albeit trying to justify it.

I'm not convinced with his defense. The guy disappoints me by accepting the gift. I wouldn't have had issues with it if were another person, but if Abati, whose writings I have been coming across for years, could accept a free gift of land from a government he sees as corrupt, then he's unprincipled. I'm sure if Abati had not been involved in this deal, he would have made it a subject of his column, characteristiaclly criticising it.

debosky:

Source?

I'll reserve my comments till I have seen the original source of this.

Even though i have seen a few source of information about the whole saga

I still remain reluctant to pass a comment until the picture becomes clearer

If it is what i am thinking then, RESERVE MY COMMENTS TOO!!

This is the source people,

http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=754:dr-reuben-abati-breaks-his-silence-&catid=81:external-contrib&Itemid=300

But the heading looks as thus: "Dr Reuben Abati Breaks His Silence "
Monday, 16 February 2009 10:33 By SOC Okenwa"

So I doubt this is directly from Dr Reuben Abati himself.

The article was written by SOS Okenwa and not Abati.
They should keep it coming until Abati speaks up.

It should be painfully obvious to even a brain-dead cow that Abati did not write this piece. Why are Nigerians so desperate to believe ill of people that they turn off their brains?

As i said before, it's tragic that the same Saharareporters that is desperate to preserve the reputation of a seriously tainted tin god (Ribadu) will happily go after people who have not been directly implicated in any wrongdoing.
Why are these people so desperate for Abati to drag himself into the mudslinging game? In his shoes, i'd do the same he's doing, especially after seeing what Keyamo's attempt at defending himself did to his own image.

Instead of pursuing this brainless agenda, the searchlight should be beamed at Sowore et al; why are they so tolerant of Ribadu's refusal to prosecute allies of his corrupt paymaster, yet harshly hold Keyamo et al to task for the same thing? Why take a sideswipe at a Journalist when there's no visible evidence that his objectivity has been compromised by the land allocation he applied for?

When you fight evil so long, sometimes you can become tainted by the same evil you fight. in this case it's Saharareporters concluding that the anti-corruption effort completely ended with Ribadu, and in Nigeria there's no one else worthy. Tabloid, junk journalism at its trashy best, and Nigerians just love to cast people in the mud.

Moves:

I disagree, We the readers of your column, members of the Public can hold anybody operating in the Public realm accountable, Herein Lies the problem with the Nigerian Leadership,

I retract my comment

Then until Abati comes out and spill the beans, i wont be quick to pan and tan him!

you really mean Abati wrote this? Men! this piece reeks of inducement! If he really wrote this, then I am utterly disappointed! HE would have remained quiet!

MrCrackles:

Then until Abati comes out and spill the beans, i wont be quick to pan and tan him!

What if _{(just an if statement by the way)} Abati keeps mute and never speaks about this land issue?

And by the way people, attached below is what Saharareporters have presented as evidence and I'm not sure if it's acceptable to you or not but depends on your personal opinion however Saharareporters feel satisfied that they've brought out something tangible and hence up to Abati to defend himself on which he's turned deaf ears to everyone.

texazzpete:

It should be painfully obvious to even a brain-dead cow that Abati did not write this piece. Why are Nigerians so desperate to believe ill of people that they turn off their brains?

As i said before, it's tragic that the same Saharareporters that is desperate to preserve the reputation of a seriously tainted tin god (Ribadu) will happily go after people who have not been directly implicated in any wrongdoing.
Why are these people so desperate for Abati to drag himself into the mudslinging game? In his shoes, i'd do the same he's doing, especially after seeing what Keyamo's attempt at defending himself did to his own image.

Instead of pursuing this brainless agenda, the searchlight should be beamed at Sowore et al; why are they so tolerant of Ribadu's refusal to prosecute allies of his corrupt paymaster, yet harshly hold Keyamo et al to task for the same thing? Why take a sideswipe at a Journalist when there's no visible evidence that his objectivity has been compromised by the land allocation he applied for?

When you fight evil so long, sometimes you can become tainted by the same evil you fight. in this case it's Saharareporters concluding that the anti-corruption effort completely ended with Ribadu, and in Nigeria there's no one else worthy. Tabloid, junk journalism at its trashy best, and Nigerians just love to cast people in the mud.

We should not be quick to forget . Following Sahara reporters back in 2007 it was vehemently critical of Ribadu and his not going after OBJ's cronies. I remember it was Sowore that published Fani Kayode's acts, they chased bode George all over the place, they revealed Atiku as not been a principled man .

Sahara reporters has done Nigeria a loot of good than the mainstream media which is all owned by one politican or the other except d few old ones.

Sun - Kalu
Nation - tinubu
Compass- Daniel
Independent -  Allegedly Ibori
Thisday - We all know what kind of person Obaigbana is.

Guardian,vanguard,punch and tribune are the older ones.

I think Sowore reveived quality investigative journalism in Nigeria and hough not perfect has done tremendous good and made the politicians more careful about the transactions abroad which was once out of reach to Nigerians.

@ BOSS

I see nothing wrong in receiving a land allocation in Abuja, as long as he pays for it the way any other Nigerian would do. Getting land allocation is not wrong - he is eligible for it as any Nigerian is.

If that is all the evidence, then Sahara is simply shooting the breeze.

If it turns out that this published article is NOT from Dr. Abati, Sahara's reputation (in my eyes) as a disreputable news source would be further strengthened.  

Sahara might have done some good, but setting themselves as judge, jury and executioner when it comes to who is corrupt and who is not, they are always going to fall into traps of making false claims purported to be 'exclusives'.

B.O.S.S.:

What if _{(just an if statement by the way)} Abati keeps mute and never speaks about this land issue?

Then people might as well conclude he himself is a corrupt Arrow and a backstabbing blabbermouth!

And i am sure i will be forced to arrive at such conclusion too!!

@ Debosky

I think that's perfect enough to serve as an evidence (because at he end of the day, all you need is a proof no matter how small) however it's very rude that Abati has ignored the readers’ call for his response. Though @moves (above) withdrew his comment but I think the comment serves this debate flawlessly as to whether Abati has some people to respond to or not.

Sahara Reporters have not labeled Abati as guilty and come to think of it, the initial allegation last year was published by Sahara Reporters and now the response by someone purportedly trying to mimic Abati has also been published by the same people i.e. Sahara Reporters. I feel Sahara have been a bit on the fence overall looking with an unbiased mind.

They have not termed him culpable neither are they called for his head but we the people have a right to demand his response else that dirt would be hard to wash off his sleeve the longer it remains there.
Don’t get me wrong by demanding our right to hear his response as there’s nothing we could do after all but you sure know that there are some things money can’t buy and damn right one of them is reputation.

Think about it, this has been dragging since 27th September (or thereabout) and Abati could just make this very easy by responding in one of his bi-weekly articles.

I'd like to know if he paid for it and how much.

I dont think that thing here was written by him anyway.

B.O.S.S.:


Sahara Reporters have not labeled Abati as guilty and come to think of it, the initial allegation last year was published by Sahara Reporters and now the response by someone purportedly trying to mimic Abati has also been published by the same people i.e. Sahara Reporters. I feel Sahara have been a bit on the fence overall looking with an unbiased mind.

they have not labelled him 'guilty'. How could they, when all they can show is that he was allocated land?
What they've done is insinuate he's guilty, and then leave all the rabid internet haters to foam at the mouth and tear at the man's reputation.

Opinion Poll: Do you think Keyamo's declaration of innocence did him more good than harm in the public court?

Poor Abati: Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

MrCrackles:

Then people might as well conclude he himself is a corrupt Arrow and a backstabbing blabbermouth!

And i am sure i will be forced to arrive at such conclusion too!!

Did people conclude the same about Ribadu when he kept mute about OBJ and his cronies? Or the so-called corrupt Governors?

Lagosboy:

We should not be quick to forget . Following Sahara reporters back in 2007 it was vehemently critical of Ribadu and his not going after OBJ's cronies. I remember it was Sowore that published Fani Kayode's acts, they chased bode George all over the place, they revealed Atiku as not been a principled man .

Sahara reporters has done Nigeria a loot of good than the mainstream media which is all owned by one politican or the other except d few old ones.

Guardian,vanguard,punch and tribune are the older ones.

I think Sowore reveived quality investigative journalism in Nigeria and hough not perfect has done tremendous good and made the politicians more careful about the transactions abroad which was once out of reach to Nigerians.

So you're willing to cut Sowore a lot of slack for historically strong performance in the anti-corruption, anti-bad governance campaign, yet refuse to do the same for Abati who also boasts impressive credentials?

GoldCircle:

you really mean Abati wrote this? Men! this piece reeks of inducement! If he really wrote this, then I am utterly disappointed! HE would have remained quiet!

You really should learn how to read. It helps in life, i can assure you

texazzpete:

they have not labelled him 'guilty'. How could they, when all they can show is that he was allocated land?
What they've done is insinuate he's guilty, and then leave all the rabid internet haters to foam at the mouth and tear at the man's reputation.

But as reporters who are meant to live by the journalism code of objectivity, aren't Sahara Reporters allowed to produce the minimum evidence they have while the rest of the world deduce their judgments?

To be honest, I haven’t seen any prejudice with Sahara Reporters with respect to this case.

@ BOSS

An FCT official told Saharareporters that all ministerial approvals derive from land applications. Two of the editors we contacted stressed the same point. Still, an official at the EFCC familiar with details of Modibbo’s corrupt deals told Saharareporters that the former minister's decision to allocate lands to Mrs. Waziri alongside top newspaper editors was done to ensure that the transaction was not reported – and that Modibbo’s extensive scams at the FCT were covered up.

On receiving the list, we contacted Comfort Obi, publisher of the SOURCE and a member of the Police Service Commission (PSC), a body that recently dismissed former EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu from the police. Ms. Obi told our reporter that she got land alongside other editors by applying for it, noting that there was nothing unusual about it. She also said some editors got land allocations in Abuja two years before her crew got theirs. Also, Mr. Bayo Onanuga of TheNEWS told Saharareporters that he purchased the land in Abuja legitimately like every other Nigerian, and that he paid for it. He further told our reporter that the former minister did not give land to any editor for free, underlining that some of the editors had a difficult time putting the money together for their allocations.

What else do you need as incrimination? Did read that Abati was contacted to get his side of the story?

Yet they are eager to paint everyone as being corrupt, keeping quiet because of an EFCC 'deal'? Is that providing 'minimum evidence'?? If I show that you bought a car last year, and now claim that you stole money to buy a car according to information from a 'source', is that 'minimum information'?

Publishing essentially BASELESS accusations from a 'source' is tantamount to ruining someone's name, especially without giving them the opportunity to respond to.

debosky:

Publishing essentially BASELESS accusations from a 'source' is tantamount to ruining someone's name, especially without giving them the opportunity to respond to.

Priceless!

@ Debosky

Right o. Thanks for that. So why has Abati chosen to hush over this issue? Ok maybe Sahara Reporters have a score to settle with Dr Abati but the least he could do is to prevent this from dragging on and on and keeping us all in a state of anxiety. I suppose he’s wiser to know that he needs to fight his fight rather than let people defend him because he knows the majority of the people he deals with on a daily basis as he’s not new to this territory.

By the way, Abati cannot deny seeing these calls since September 2007 but has (or probably planning to respond in his own time) or chosen to ignore and probably damning the consequences.

By the way, if you were Abati, would you respond or rather become quiet over the issue and just let it drag on and on hence people drawing up their conclusions? I think overall, it’s the inaudible silence that’s deafening the people.

c33b33:

Reuben Abati?!I reserve my comment till i hear from him directly on tv or radio, how can he accept a gift from those he calls corrupted!

In less than 30 words, kindly explain how land you paid for is a 'gift'.
With a mindset (and logic) like this, please reserve your comment forever

B.O.S.S.:

@ Debosky

Right o. Thanks for that. So why has Abati chosen to hush over this issue? Ok maybe Sahara Reporters have a score to settle with Dr Abati but the least he could do is to prevent this from dragging on and on and keeping us all in a state of anxiety. I suppose he’s wiser to know that he needs to fight his fight rather than let people defend him because he knows the majority of the people he deals with on a daily basis as he’s not new to this territory.

Hush over the matter?   [b]If I buy a car tomorrow and Sahara says I stole money to buy it, does that mean I must now write a rejoinder to them? [/b]Is that how it works?  

Fight what fight exactly? Over an allegation from a nameless source purported to be at the EFCC? Who would Abati be replying in this instance? Sahara? Why would he do this?

B.O.S.S.:

By the way, Abati cannot deny seeing these calls since September 2007 but has (or probably planning to respond in his own time) or chosen to ignore and probably damning the consequences.

So what if he has seen it? I personally don't see anything warranting a response. ANYONE can make claims - that doesn't make them worthy of responses, especially given that NO EVIDENCE of any wrongdoing was provided.

B.O.S.S.:

By the way, if you were Abati, would you respond or rather become quiet over the issue and just let it drag on and on hence people drawing up their conclusions? I think overall, it’s the inaudible silence that’s deafening the people.

Dr. Abati is the editor of The Guardian - one of Nigeria's oldest and best newspapers. Is it implausible that he will have ONE PLOT of land in Abuja that he PAID for?  

He doesn't need to respond to a baseless claim made by a shadowy organisation known for creating phantom 'exclusives' for reasons best known to them. How many editors were named in that article? How many were contacted? His credibility hasn't gone down one jot in my view - anyone can make up what Sahara said and attribute it to a 'source'.

Responding to them is more or less giving credence to the allegations of corruption. He was allocated a piece of land and paid for it. If that is a crime, then let's lock up everyone in Abuja.

@ Debosky, I want to know if you consider that regardless of whatever being insinuated by Saharareporters; any person of Abati's reputation represents an institution and should have moved to douse any speculations, Dont you think that he owes it to the reading public to reply to such insinuation as they (public) ultimately are responsible for his current status, If indeed he accepted the allocated land regardless of whether he actually paid for it or not, I personally consider it a stain on his person having read his article "how much land does one Man need"as i would expect him to have rejected such offers knowing fully well the furore it can bring, Did Gani not reject a national honour that he more than deserved, for pete sake A celebrated journalist like him can afford the buy a land in Abuja of private entity and keep his integrity intact without undue questions,

Someone like Dr Reuben Abati should know when to reject a 'gift' , be it paid for, at a discount or whatever. That would ensure he remains blameless while doing his great work. It is true that everyone has a price. Prime plots in Abuja? Hmmmmmmmm.

Moves:

@ Debosky, I want to know if you consider that regardless of whatever being insinuated by Saharareporters; any person of Abati's reputation represents an institution and should have moved to douse any speculations, Dont you think that he owes it to the reading public to reply to such insinuation as they (public) ultimately are responsible for his current status, If indeed he accepted the allocated land regardless of whether he actually paid for it or not, I personally consider it a stain on his person having read his article "how much land does one Man need"as i would expect him to have rejected such offers knowing fully well the furore it can bring, Did Gani not reject a national honour that he more than deserved, for pete sake A celebrated journalist like him can afford the buy a land in Abuja of private entity and keep his integrity intact without undue questions,

What are you saying really? How is 'how much land does one man need' related to PAYING for ONE PLOT of land in Abuja

Why can't Abati get a land allocation approved by the minister directly? Why must he buy 'of a private entity'? ALL Land allocation (whether through 'private entity' or not) is approved by the minister, so what is this talk about 'undue questions'??

National Honour is a different matter all together - it is not your constitutional right to have a national honour. ANYONE is allowed to own land in Abuja, and he got allocated and paid for it.

This is nothing but rumour mongering. Let people speculate to the high heavens. It is high time we stopped operating by rumours and start sticking to facts.

the ultimate catch 22

as long as i am a social critic i must remain dirt poor.

any sign that i am advancing be it by dint of luck, pluck, good business sense or plain old fashioned corruption will be automatically be construed as being crooked