Date Published: 07/02/11

Guardian's Ruben Abati Is Jonathan's Spokesman.​..Replaces Niboro

Ruben Abati

Guardian's editorial board chairman, Dr Ruben Abati, has been confirmed, Senior Special Adviser, Communications to President Goodluck Jonathan.

He replaces Ima Niboro also formerly of the Guardian and Tell Magazine.

Abati who did a patronizing 10 part article on Jonathan, had been touted as a replacement for Niboro.

Pointblank news.com source in Abuja, hinted that Jonathan informed Niboro of his exit after the swearing in of new ministers on Saturday . The source however said Jonathan told Niboro to hang around pending when he would be assigned another office .

Abati's reputation took a smack when he was alleged to have benefited from a land jamboree for selected editors by late Umar Yar Adua's administration.

Abati, born November 7, 1965 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, is a newspaper columnist. He was a first class honours graduate of Theater Arts from the University of Calabar where he won the Vice-Chancellor’s prize for the best overall graduating student and presently the chairman of the editorial board of the Nigerian newspaper The Guardian. His column also appears regularly on the popular Nigerian website, [Nigerian Village Square (NVS)]See Abati's page on NVS.

Abati who bagged a PhD at the tender age of 24, won a number of awards including The Cecil King Memorial Prize for Print Journalist of the Year in 1998, The Diamond Award for Media Excellence for Informed Commentary in 1998, Fletcher Challenge Commonwealth Prize for Opinion Writing in 2000, and the Diamond Award for Media Excellence for Informed Commentary, 2000.

He is married to Iyabo Abati who is a banker. He has four kids, James Abati, Elizabeth Abati, Daniel Abati and Samuel Abati. Recently appointed as the spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan.