President Bola Tinubu has extended his congratulations to veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, on the occasion of his 60th birthday.
In a statement personally issued on Friday, President Tinubu lauded Dr. Abati as an accomplished public intellectual and patriotic commentator whose work has yielded substantial contributions to Nigeria’s media landscape and public discourse.
The President particularly commended Abati whom he referred to with the endearing term “Rubi Rubi” for his remarkable versatility and excellence across diverse professional fields. Dr. Abati’s distinguished career spans his time in academia, his tenure as Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Guardian, his impactful writing as a columnist, and his current role as a television anchor.
President Tinubu specifically praised Abati’s “insightful articles, regular interventions, and television analyses,” noting that they consistently serve to enlighten and inspire Nigerians. He further acknowledged Abati’s cross-sectoral experience, which he stated has significantly enriched national conversations on public-interest issues. The President also recognized Dr. Abati’s dedicated service to Nigeria as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan. The celebratory message coincided with the launch of Dr. Abati’s three new books: Portraits: People, Politics and Society, A Love Letter and Other Stories, and How Goodluck Jonathan Became President.
In concluding the statement, President Tinubu joined the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), family, and friends in celebrating the notable writer, offering a prayer for his long life, good health, and continued inspiration in service to the nation and humanity.
Background on Dr. Reuben Abati
Born on November 7, 1965, Dr. Abati is a prominent newspaper columnist and a key anchor on Arise TV. A graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Calabar, he is also a senior research associate with the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Cultural Studies and the National Open University of Nigeria. Abati also contested the 2019 governorship election in Ogun State as the Deputy Governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party.
