Abati: I thought I could rattle Tinubu during media chat — but he knows what he’s doing

Reuben Abati, former presidential spokesperson and co-host of Arise Television’s breakfast show, says President Bola Tinubu has the looks of a man who has settled nicely into his job.

Tinubu held his first media chat as president on December 23. Abati was one of seven journalists who interviewed the president in his Ikoyi, Lagos residence.

Speaking on the Morning Show on Tuesday, Abati said journalists were not asked to submit questions beforehand, and that the president’s responses did not come across as ‘word salad’ or bare-bone.

Abati commended the president for exuding confidence throughout the discourse.

“I liked the fact that, sitting next to him, he has settled into the job. He knows what he’s doing. He spoke with a lot of confidence,” he said.

“I was shocked that this man… they didn’t even prepare him. He just walked onto this set and he’s sounding like this. That again is something to commend.

“He was relaxed. I thought I could rattle him once or twice.

“Nobody asked us to submit questions; President Tinubu didn’t say what are you going to discuss? In fact, we did not see him until he walked onto the set.”

The former spokesperson to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan also implored Tinubu’s media team to hold the chat regularly.

“I was impressed with the fact that he was in very good spirits. He was prepared to take on the encounter and he was ready to talk to Nigerians,” he added.

“By way of recommendation, his media team should do this regularly. Let him do it again and again, and talk to Nigerians.”