A former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Reuben Abati, has opened up on the atmosphere of yesterday’s Media Chat with President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu addressed Nigerians on Monday ahead of Christmas celebrations and it came in the form of a media chat.
The spokesperson of the President, Bola Onanuga, had earlier announced this in a statement on Monday.
The President responded to questions on cutting the size of his cabinet, the stampedes recently experienced during palliative distributions across the country, fuel subsidy removal , borrowing , the tax reform bills, amongst other key national issues.
Before such interviews on some occasions, the President’s media team advises the journalists on questions to be thrown at the President. In some cases, the questions are even distributed among the participating pressmen.
However, Abati said that was not the case with Monday’s media chat with Tinubu.
The Arise TV presenter, who has interviewed many Presidents and worked as one of the Spokespersons to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was the moderator of the media chat with Tinubu.
He said on Arise TV Morning Show, “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. I was impressed that he was in a good spirit and was ready to take on the encounter and was speaking to Nigerians. I want to recommend to his media that he should do it more regularly.”