The Brexit nightmare - by Reuben Abati

What has the United Kingdom just done to itself, its people and the future of its youth?

It is difficult to fully understand why a country in taking a decision about its future will decide on a false option that seems to negate long-term interests.

And this, just because a total of 17.4 million people out of over 61 million chose to vote against the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the EU.

More than 50% of these pro-Brexit voters are actually between the age bracket: 50-70.

Thus an ageing class of voters has taken a decision to undermine the future of the younger generation.

Pro-EU Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “courageous and optimistic” when in January 2014, he tried to justify the need for a referendum.

His words then:

President Jonathan leaves for Germany amidst speculation on his health

President Goodluck Jonathan will Friday morning jet out of Abuja on a private visit to Germany. This was confirmed by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a terse statement late Thursday.

He disclosed that Mr. Jonathan will be accompanied on the trip by some of his principal aides.

The announcement of the trip came at a time cloud of doubt continues to hover around the Nigerian leader’s well-being. It should be recall that some citizens had speculated about Mr. Jonathan’s health just before his trip to the Washington DC, United States, where he attended the 2014 US-Africa Leaders Summit early August.

According to Abati: "President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will leave Abuja early Friday on a private visit to Germany."

"The President will be accompanied on the trip by some of his principal aides."

"He is expected back in Abuja early next week."

Jonathan appoints Bode-George’s wife , Roli as NDLEA boss

President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Roli Bode-George as the new Director General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

The appointee is the wife of a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George.

Mr. George, a leader of the PDP in Lagos, is currently a delegate, appointed by the president, at the National Conference. His conviction for fraud, when he served as head of the Nigeria Ports Authority, by a High Court was upturned by the Supreme Court.

Mr. Jonathan’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, announced the appointment on his twitter handle on Thursday evening. He said the appointment is with immediate effect.

No plans to name University of Ibadan after Dora Akunyili – Abati

The Presidency on Sunday denied reports that the Federal Government was planning to name the University of Ibadan after the late .
The presidential media aide, Reuben Abati, in a message on his Twitter handle, said there was never an official statement that President Goodluck Jonathan was considering naming the university after the deceased.

He also urged members of the public to ignore the news which he described as false.
“Nobody ever said Mr. President is considering naming University of Ibadan after Late Professor Dora Akunyili. Please ignore fake news,” he said.

Mrs. Akunyili, a professor of pharmacy and former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, died on Saturday in an Indian hospital.

Pius Adesanmi: No Wonder Rere dey Run

Aso Rock Villa. Living Room of the President’s private residence. Israeli, American, French, Chinese, Cambodian, Somalian, Sudanese, and Ghanaian security operatives protecting the Nigerian president are in the background. They try to make themselves unobtrusive. Also in the background, chanting Quranic hymns on mats imported from Chad, are marabouts from Niger, Senegal, and Gambia. At the centre of the living room, some distance away from all the foreign intelligence and spiritual protectors of the President, the usual suspects gather, wearing gloomy faces: President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Tony Anenih, Baba Iyabo, Ayo Oritsejafor, Mohammed Adoke, Doyin Okupe, Reuben Abati, and other inconsequential AGIPs. Nobody is talking. Soft music oozes from a central entertainment system. An old school Yoruba tune probably supplied by Doyin Okupe and Reuben Abati:

If the President sacks Okupe & Wendell Simlin - Omojuwa

Japheth Omojuwa has lash out on the two special aids of the Nigerian President Jonathan for blackmailing him, maintaining that if the duo of  Doyin Okupe & Reno Omokri were sacked, the president may likely regain the ten percent of his lost popularity.

Omojuwa, a Nigerian blogger, socio-economic and political commentator said; "If the President sacks Okupe & Wendell Simlin, his popularity will increase by at least 10% just for that alone."

According to him, Reuben Abati can do the job of communicating the President Jonthan's agenda. If they must hire Reno & Okupe, may be to carry bags & phones. For instance, Reuben Abati is not evil, Reno Omokri is the representation of all that is evil. Reuben Abati is not dirty, Okupe is dirt.

Kidnapped Schoolgirls: U S to Deploy Troops to Nigeria – Abati

President Goodluck Jonathan, Tuesday, welcomed and accepted a definite offer of help from the United States of America in the ongoing effort to locate and rescue the girls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, three weeks ago.


This was disclosed in a press statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, on Tuesday evening.


Mr. Abati said the “offer from President Barack Obama which was conveyed to President Jonathan by the United States Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry in a telephone conversation which began at 15.30 Hours today, includes the deployment of U.S. security personnel and assets to work with their Nigerian counterparts in the search and rescue operation”.

Bomb Blast: President Jonthan, Buhari to Jonitly Fight Terrorism in Nigeria

Contrary to the Peoples Democratic Party' allegations against the former head of state and the National Leader of the opposition party, All Progressive Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), that he and the party are the brain behind the activities of the dreaded Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has commended the former leader for his very statesman-like views on terrorism and insecurity in in the country as expressed in his article which was published by the media over the past two days.

Gen. Buari, who strongly condemned the Abuja Bomb explosion which killed scores and hundreds as 'a cruel act of merciless slaughter'. 

ABUJA JAILBREAK: SSS LIE TO COVER UP DARING BOKO HARAM ATTACK ON THEM - SECRET REPORTS

The Department of State Security (DSS) who got the shock of their lives today when the dreaded Boko Haram sect paid them a visit are still at shock how the group were able to penetrate the impregnable defence of the SSS Headquarters.

In a move to cover up their security inefficiency, the SSS has resorted to issue out statement which sources who witnessed the attack described as untrue.

According to the SSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, “At 0715 hours, the Service suspect handler went to the detention facility within the Headquarters to feed the suspects. One of the suspects attempted to disarm him by hitting him at the back of his head with his handcuff. His attempt to escape drew the attention of other guards at the facility who fired some shots to warn and deter others.

“The gun shots attracted the attention of the military with whom we have an understanding of mutual assistance in the event of any threat. The Army immediately deployed a team to reinforce our perimeter guards to forestall any external collaborators. The situation has since been brought under control.”

Abuja Gun Battle Updates: DSS statement

The spokesperson for the DSS, Marilyn Ogar issued a statement earlier today on the attempted jailbreak at the Abuja headquarters of the Nigeria’s secret police.

Her Statement:

“At 0715 hours, the Service suspect handler went to the detention facility within the Headquarters to feed the suspects.

“One of the suspects attempted to disarm him by hitting him at the back of his head with his handcuff.

Abuja Shooting: Nothing Do Mr President - Reuben Abati

The President Jonathan spokesperson, Reuben Abati said that Abuja shootout was an attempted jail break which the security Operatives foiled and has not in anyway affect President Goodluck Jonathan.

What happened at the SSS HQ this morning was an attempted jailbreak which has been effectively foiled. There is no cause for alarm.
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 30, 2014

He said the Sunday Morning gunshots heard in the vicinity of the Presidential villa was actually from the SSS Headquarters which is in the area.

Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau Says He Has Not Resign

Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau Says He Has Not Resign

Nigerian Defence minister, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau, has denied the widespread reports of his resignation Wednesday, in what has deflated concerns about the implication of such an exit on the Nigerian government's effort to curtail a bloody rampage by the extremist Boko Haram sect.

Lt. Gen. Gusau said, the reports of his leaving office were untrue. "No I did not," he said in a brief text message response to a Journalists' inquiry asking if he had resigned.

His response came as the Nigerian government scrambled to dispel the reports that the minister, who was appointed barely a week ago, stepped down after an altercation with military commanders.

President Jonathan sacks chief of staff Mike Oghiadomhe

Abuja - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed his chief of staff, three senior government sources confirmed this on Monday, extending a wave of government changes a year before elections.

Africa's second largest economy and biggest oil producer is advancing as an investment destination but political instability is a concern for investors, especially as wasteful government spending tends to spike ahead of elections.

Presidency spokesperson Reuben Abati told reporters that chief of staff Mike Oghiadomhe had resigned because he wanted to pursue political opportunities in the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). Government sources said he was sacked.

Jonathan is facing a crisis within the PDP centred around his assumed intention to run for another term in the 2015 election. He has yet to say whether or not he will do so.

Five powerful state governors and dozens of lawmakers have defected to the recently formed coalition All Progressives Congress (APC), mostly politicians from the largely-Muslim north. Jonathan is a Christian from the southern oil region.

Analysts say Jonathan is still favourite to win a second term, if he runs, in a country where incumbents rarely lose.

Jonathan last month overhauled his military high command and appointed 12 new cabinet ministers, while the chair of the PDP resigned.

"He is removing divisive figures and asserting his authority by aligning the people he thinks will get him in the best shape for next year," a senior government source said.

"Election campaigning has already begun."

Jonathan has been accused, most recently by his former mentor and twice president Olusegun Obasanjo, of stuffing government posts with people from his southern region.

Oghiadomhe hails from Edo state in the south and analysts will be watching to see if Jonathan appoints a northern replacement as chief of staff to appease his detractors.

- Reuters