I Wasn’t A Journalist In GEJ’s Government – Abati Opens Up

Reuben Abati, spokesperson of the immediate past president Goodluck Jonathan, has shown surprise that people still expected him to be a journalist when he joined government.

A famous economist Abati who also chaired the editorial board of Guardian together with Pat Utomi, attached Patito’s Gang, a television talk show that concentrated on societal matters.

Abati commenting on his role in government said the job of a spokesperson is very subtle and needs wisdom.

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He said: “Once you are in government, you are no more a journalist. It’s just like a royal court; the king does not go out, he sends someone to deliver his message to the people.

“The job of a government’s spokesman is very delicate and sensitive. A careless spokesperson can blow up a country but my colleagues still wanted me to talk as Abati, the columnist or Abati as a panelist in Patitos Gang.

“Loquacity is not an asset when you are a government’s spokesman. It is not everything that a hunter sees in the bush that he talks about.”

He lamented the idea of a new government wanting to commence everything afresh even when the immediate past government had some viable projects/programmes that would put the country on the path of sustainable development.

Abati also dared reporters to always make public office holders answerable to the people.

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This is the second time GEJ’s spokesman would be making a public comment since leaving government in May.

In July, he wrote a piece titled: ‘The Phones No longer Ring’, detailing his experience as the mouthpiece of the government between 2011 and 2015.

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