REACTIONS OVER RUBEN ABATI'S REACTION ON NUHU RIBADUS"S SPEECH IN ABU ZARIA ON 8th JUNE 2013

   The Ahmadu Bello University Student Representative Council (ABUSRC) REACTS OVER Reuben Abati, President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman, for his verbal attack Nuhu Ribadu

  The Students’ Representative Council of the Ahmadu Bello University, ABUSRC, Zaria, noted with utter consternation and disappointment, over the reaction by the Media Adviser to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, on a lecture delivered by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, during a Public Lecture organized on 8th June, 2013, at the Assembly Hall of the Samaru Main Campus.

students woke up on June 10 just to see the publication which was  Signed by ABUSRC’s president, Abubakar A. Rafindadi. We could see students gathered around strategic areas were such post were pasted, while some showed signs of satisfaction over the post, some were dissatisfaction over the post as they felt the ABUSRC should not engage itself with sectional politics i.e. backing Mr. Ribadu. In the next page, we would paste some online comments obtained from comments people posted on Sahara reporters which showed clearly that this publication was politically interpreted . But for the now, this was what was part of the publication.
"With all due respect to the revered Presidency, the way and manner in which the Presidential Adviser came out and launched his characteristic campaign of calumny against perceived opponents to his boss, this time against Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in the national dailies, is very disheartening. It is also instructive to note that he did so on account of total misconstruction and deliberate distortion of the contents of the speech delivered by Ribadu.
“In the said lecture entitled ‘Political Engagement: A New Approach,’ Ribadu attempted to locate the role of all stakeholders in the Nigerian enterprise, particularly the youth, in rising up to the myriad challenges of national cohesion, entrenchment of democratic values, the increasingly rising tide of oligarchic tendencies in the nation’s politics, the divisive and exclusionist siren calls among parochial ethnic chauvinists, among other very important national issues including insecurity. We view as unfair as well as provocative, the statement credited to Abati by national dailies that ‘President Jonathan and his administration will not be distracted from the diligent implementation of the agenda by the falsehood and vituperations of Ribadu and his new friends’. It is disgustingly surprising that this statement was made as an attack on a paper presented which was tailored to address the aforementioned challenges.
“It is instructive to note that the lecture in question looked at Nigeria and its embarrassing predicaments, and not at any particular person or group. No mention was made of anybody’s name. Naturally, one wonders why the hoopla! In the lecture, this was, amongst others, what Ribadu said ‘...we need to come together to make our democracy work; let us drop any form of identity that introduces us as something other than ‘citizens’, and let us drop any citizenship that asks for anything other than ‘change’ for the better. Let us destroy any institution that preaches divisions and exclusions’. For goodness sake, fellow Nigerians, what is wrong with a paper (or for that matter, its author) that advocates for the much-sought-after ideals, as quoted above?
That Nigeria and Nigerians need take their destiny into their own hands is, in the opinion of ABUSRC, which is made up of true democrats, (and indeed the majority of well-meaning Nigerians), a right philosophy on the right track. Interestingly, this is the philosophy that pervades throughout the paper delivered by Mallam Ribadu.
“It is equally important to emphatically state here that the fact that Nigeria is in unfortunately ailing situation is not in doubt. Therefore, why should it become a crime when Nigerians are told that there is a problem with their dear country, with the intention that they may be spurred to wake up to clear the mess for the political and economic development which the nation badly needs?”

The students’ statement continued: “As true democrats, we strongly believe in intellectual exchange of ideas so as to move this nation and its nascent democracy forward. It will doubtless not augur well for this country and its politics when its leaders consider any attempt to enlighten the public politically as irresponsible and subversive. The ABUSRC believes in the great possibility of a greater Nigeria with the active participation of all and sundry, whether one is in government or not. In view of the above, we view as sine qua non for the achievement of the above goal, the entrenchment of freedom of speech which the Nigerian constitution guarantees. And it sounds paradoxical for a government that takes pride in ‘consistently (upholding) the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights’ to now come out berating a Nigerian who has lawfully expressed his opinion as guaranteed by the law of the land.
“On a final note, if Nigeria should move forward politically and otherwise (which we believe so), leaders should learn to tolerate opposition, allow the freedom of expression to be exercised and look at things in proper perspective. Decontextualizing issues for personal and/or political reasons will not help our drive for a more prosperous, egalitarian and united Nigeria.”

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     COMMENTS FROM SAHARA REPORTERS   CLICK TO READ

ABATI

 

>Submitted by YARO DAN MAMA (not verified) on June 13, 2013 - 08:28.

What do you expect from Reuben Abati of today ? Objectivity? Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!! Objectivity was his principle when he was with the Guardian before his current appointment. But, all sincere minds know that Abati of today is for Propaganda. That is how I personally view him now. I was proud of Abati whenever I picked a copy of The Guardian Newspaper in those days, when I was at the University, but we should NOT blame him, it could be economic factor or Struggle to belong issue
That is life!!!!!!!!!.

>Submitted by Musa Usman (not verified) on June 12, 2013 - 20:52.

Thumbs Up for Reuben Abati, for his competence in handling the APC and Buhari/Tinubu supporters. Matching them word for word. Ribadu is a forking liar. He can only deceive the foolish once. He lied he went after Obasanjo men, capital lie. When these guys were in good terms with OBJ,why didn't he hunt them then? As for Atiku,he was being hunted by Ribadu immediately OBJ knew about his presidential ambition. Ibori was hunt down by Ribadu because he sponsored and supported the Atiku course. Delta State delegates at the convention voted for Atiku. They knew because all the ballots papers were marked. Then, for Balogun, when he fell into OBJ's black book.

>Submitted by mad nigerian (not verified) on June 12, 2013 - 19:08.

I note with some amusement the attempt by some to portray ABU students as being all illiterate Almajiris.
ABU is a proper university that admits and has admitted thousands of Southerners, middle belters and Northerners.
And as a Northerner, ye still need to pass JAMB and to pass English at WAEC level before they let you in that university.
And THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION IN ABU IS ENGLISH.
I realise that the North has a lot to answer for, but bigotry of the sort shown by Southerners who stereotype all Northerners and things associated thereof with the North as 'illiterate islamists' are not only bigots, they demonstrate their ignorance of te situation in the University.
ABU is a SECULAR univeristy....especially as it has two christian chapels and still employs and admits students from all over Nigeria.
Can we stop the bigotry please. We are all entitled to disagree with our leaders.