Reuben Abati, a former presidential spokesperson and co-host of Arise Television’s breakfast show, has commented on President Bola Tinubu’s demeanour following his first media chat as president on December 23.
Gatekeepers News reports that Abati, who participated in the interview alongside six other journalists at the president’s Ikoyi residence in Lagos, remarked that Tinubu appears to have comfortably embraced his role.
During a discussion on the Morning Show, Abati noted that journalists were not required to submit their questions in advance, and he expressed that the president’s replies were articulate and substantive, rather than vague or overly simplistic.
He praised Tinubu for his confident presence throughout the conversation.
“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.”
Abati further advised the president’s media team to consider making the media interactions a regular occurrence.
“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.”
