By Vincent Ihesinulo
It has been raining rotten eggs and tomatoes on AriseTV’s presenter, Reuben Abati, for his snide reactions to his younger colleague, Mary Chinda’s use of his first name while addressing him from the field during a live reportage. The flaks on Abati, as deserving as they came, have been from major stakeholders in the industry who believe he overreached himself in his desire to have his (academic) titles recognized by the hapless young reporter.
Before adding the title of broadcaster/presenter to his enviable resume, Abati, a first-class theater artist with Ph.D and a law degree to boot, has dominated Nigeria’s media space for over three decades in different capacities. From writing stories in the defunct HINTS Magazine to being chairman of the editorial board of the once revered Guardian newspapers, he ascended to Nigeria’s highest seat of power where he spoke for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
His days as presidential spokesperson qualifies for a special story on another day but suffice it to say that he shocked quite a number of his followers and admirers when he automatically shifted sides from being the voice of the oppressed Nigerians to becoming the voice of the oppressors. He so much relished the opportunities that came with his stint at the presidency to the extent of picking his party’s ticket for an elective position in his state. The outcome of that ill-fated attempt was the first sign that the electorate was still mad at him for his anti-people roles while at the presidency.
Abati’s volte-face on his former constituency at the peak of his reign in the presidency also made it difficult for him to regain his once influential voice when he returned to the media. People no longer took his editorial interventions on their behalf seriously, having watched him chill and bambam with the big boys while they languished in pains and penury, just like Femi Adesina is doing today under President Muhammadu Buhari. Abati was richer and more influential but was indeed lonely in the lurch of The Guardian to which he returned after his Aso Rock mission. His columns became mere monologues that no longer enjoyed as much responses as they used to.
It took the intervention of the magnanimous publisher of THISDAY newspapers and AriseTV, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, to re-present Abati in a totally different light as lead presenter of the station’s Morning Show. The sight of a Reuben as presenter of a primetime show, ensconced between two elegant and cerebral ladies seemed to have performed the expected magic on the minds of Nigerians. They forgot so soon his many sins as presidential spokesperson and once again accepted his voice.
Give it to him, Abati, with his rich experiences and exposure in the private and public sectors, provides sound intellectual perspectives to issues under focus. His takes on topical issues give him away as well-read, very knowledgeable and experienced. Little wonder, brilliant scholars, when they speak confidently and authoritatively on matters they are familiar with, are often misunderstood as being arrogant. The late Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and Prof Wole Soyinka are some of the victims of this misrepresentation. Great intellectuals are also known to be very humble and self-effacing. But to many, an addition to the intellectual endowments of Dr Abati is his naturally haughty nature which he displayed recently that got us all talking. It is obvious that those who tried to dismiss Abati’s reaction as a joke have not been paying attention to some of his unprofessional nuances on the Morning Show.
I am a great fan of the AriseTV Morning Show crew and I have enormous respect and admiration for them. But it surprises me to note that despite Dr Abati’s decades of exposure to the spoken English language, he still commits some phonemical errors in his presentations. For someone who could easily be referred to as a media institution, Abati habitually mispronounces the words “register” and “legislation.” Some say it is peculiar to persons from his part of the country but what is the essence of education if he cannot unlearn that mispronunciation? I hope this is not part of the history he promised to teach Mary Chinda after she returned to the studio.
I am sure his team members always wince anytime he commits that blunder but would not be bold enough to tell him because of this same kabiyesi syndrome he exhibits even in a 21st century work environment. I do not claim to know it all, but it hurts the ear to hear a first class degree holder, with Ph.D and a law degree commit such blunders after decades in the communication industry.
I have also seen Abati unprofessionally shut the equally bright and articulate Rufai Oseni up in a very intimidating manner. Rufai, being a younger Yoruba person, would stomach it to show respect to his elder.
Have you also noticed that Abati sizes up his guests and addresses them according to his mindset about the guests and not necessarily the professional way? One example is Prof Kingsley Moghalu whom I believe Abati sees as his either as a contemporary or a junior fellow. Reason he finds it hard to address Moghalu as a professor that he is. In one of the interviews they had with the former central bank deputy governor, Abati managed to refer to him as Dr Kingsley Moghalu instead of Prof, and then as just “Kingsley” subsequently during the interview. But you see him defer to Professors Pat Utomi, Bolaji Akinyemi, Bola Akinterinwa, Barth Nnaji and others whom he internally acknowledges are above him in rank and class. Watch any of the interviews on AriseTV YouTube channels and clear your doubts.
It is also possible that Abati would carry the same airs of political and professional importance with him in the classrooms, thereby making it difficult for the intimidated lecturers to teach him the truth. I have nothing personal against him but for his sake, I really wish he would be humble enough to take a few courses on working in a 21st century news media, preferably outside the country where lecturers and students relate on the same level.
We all know that it is a very big deal being a human, and a Nigerian at the same time. On this score, His Imperial Majesty Sir Dr Abati deserves no condemnation. But if only for the young TV station, which has easily become the darling of Nigerian screens and the king of the airwaves, to succeed, let there be a change. So that AriseTV would sustain her record as the most fearless, daring, creative and authoritative station in our part of Africa.
Vincent Ihesinulo. @Veensaint. Journalist, banker, music enthusiast, writes from Lagos.