Op-Ed: Still on Reuben Abati and his Gangster Journalism By Kelechi Jeff Eme

Abati is an emergency broadcaster, hence titles and mundane superiority appeals to him.

That a man of his supposed intellectual standing could brazenly import non existent speech by Chief TOS Benson just to preach hate against Ndigbo is crass.

He claimed that Ndigbo don’t sell lands to non Igbos. Haba Reuben!

Did the Federal Government and Gwari people sell Abuja lands to only Ndigbo? Why didn’t other tribes buy?

Did Yorubas in Ogun and Lagos States sell Lands to only Ndigbo? Why didn’t other tribes buy?

The truth is that Ndigbo are business minded, hence consider property ownership as more economical than renting. This is just the secret.

For the education of social ignoramuses like Reuben, the major commercial street in Owerri is Rotobi Street. The first property owner in this busy commercial street was a Yoruba man and the same is named after him till date.

Yorubas that dared to do business in Igbo land are extremely successful. One of the busiest pharmacy outlets in New Owerri is completely owned by a Yoruba man and he has built a huge business empire in Owerri.

For years, the Chairman of World Bank Market, New Owerri is an Ebira man of Kogi State extraction. 

The Amala joint at New Owerri, very close to City Cruz Hotel is very busy and is commanding both Igbo and Yoruba clients.

Onitsha, the commercial heartbeat of Eastern Nigeria is a rallying point for Hausas, Yorubas, Igalas, Nupes, etc. Do your research on Reuben.

In fact, the Igalas and Nupes are critical stakeholders in the Onitsha business circuit.

Reuben Abati cannot sit in Arise Television Studio and effuse on matters he knows little or nothing about. The era of mainstream media, where he bestrode the space without challenge is gone forever. He should understand this and know peace.

Finally, hiding behind the infantile narrative of Ndigbo not selling lands to outsiders as a lazy man’s equalizer to the mercuriality and positive business dexterity of the Igbo man is intellectual lunacy. Reuben Abati must retrace his steps.

By Kelechi Jeff Eme

The Cicero of Mbaitoli.