I tried to rattle Tinubu during media chat, but he was relaxed – Reuben Abati

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A former presidential aide and co-host of Arise Television’s breakfast show, Reuben Abati, has provided a glimpse into the atmosphere of Monday’s media chat with President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking during the Morning Show on Tuesday, Abati, one of the seven journalists who interviewed the President at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, remarked that Tinubu appears to have comfortably settled into his role as President.

He further disclosed that the President’s media team neither requested questions in advance nor held any prior discussions with the President regarding the interview.

His words: “I liked the fact that, sitting next to him, he has settled into the job. He knows what he’s doing. He spoke with a lot of confidence.

“I was shocked that this man… they didn’t even prepare him. He just walked onto this set and he’s sounding like this. That again is something to commend.

“He was relaxed. I thought I could rattle him once or twice.

“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.”

Abati praised the president for displaying confidence throughout the discussion and urged his media team to organize these chats on a regular basis.

“I was impressed with the fact that he was in very good spirits. He was prepared to take on the encounter and he was ready to talk to Nigerians.

“By way of recommendation, his media team should do this regularly. Let him do it again and again, and talk to Nigerians.”