By Onyiorah Paschal Chiduluemije
The piece “Breakfast With The Soludos” is, without a doubt, a skewed opinion by Dr. Reuben Abati, masquerading as objective commentary on the administration of Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the Executive Governor of Anambra State. What began as an innocent breakfast invitation appears to have ended as a shameless compromise of journalistic integrity — packaged and sold to the public with a polished pen, yet tainted by indulgence.
Dr. Abati, a former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and now a TV presenter with Arise News, reveals too much in his write-up. From the outset, he did not hide the excitement of being in Anambra, courtesy of Governor Soludo’s media team, to moderate a media chat marking the Governor’s third anniversary in office.
In Dr. Abati’s own words, “It was not difficult for me to accept the invitation.” But how could it have been? With all the pomp and provisions that awaited him, including the Governor’s personal hospitality and a seat at the breakfast table, the allure was simply irresistible. According to him, the interview began at 7:00 p.m. and ended at 9:00 p.m. on March 18, 2025, broadcast live on Arise News, Channels TV, TVC, and ABS. The next morning, the Governor hosted the journalists — including Babajide Otitoju (TVC), Maupe Ogun-Yusuf (Channels), Chris Molokwu (ABS), and Dr. Abati himself — to breakfast at the Government House.
What raises concern here is not the breakfast per se, but what it signifies. By Abati’s own confession, his wife, Kikelomo Atanda-Owo of Real Talk with Kike (Silverbird TV), also tagged along, even though she was not on the Governor’s guest list. Her presence, however delightful, reinforces the impression that this was more a leisure trip than a professional assignment.
Of the four journalists invited for breakfast, only Mr. Chris Molokwu of ABS chose to abstain — whether by deliberate choice or happenstance. Regardless, his absence was commendable. It sends a signal of ethical consciousness and respect for journalistic boundaries. There’s a professional line no journalist should cross, especially when objectivity and public trust are at stake.
To wine and dine with a sitting governor before or after conducting a performance review interview undermines public trust. It risks breeding bias, and it compromises the reporter’s independence — which is the bedrock of credible journalism. Such conduct, even when unintentional, amounts to professional misconduct and must be roundly condemned.
More troubling is how Dr. Abati returned to his platform and authored a glowing article about the Governor, curiously titled “Breakfast With The Soludos.” In it, he narrates his breakfast experience, recounts conversations with Mrs. Nonye Soludo, and lavishes praise on policies and achievements without interrogating the facts. He parrots Soludo’s claims about averting hunger riots and touts the Governor’s wife’s interventions without skepticism. The hallmark of rigorous journalism — verification — was sacrificed on the altar of hospitality.
Dr. Abati even cites visible signage across Awka that reads “The Solution is Here”, as if branding equates to transformation. He references his own past work “The Soludo Solution” to bolster current claims of progress, including water availability and the emergence of three new cities — all without solid empirical evidence.
In doing so, he not only whitewashes reality but presents a conflicted narrative riddled with sycophancy, devoid of balanced analysis, and unfortunately unbecoming of a veteran journalist. Visiting a state under the banner of Arise News and returning with a romanticized Breakfast With The Soludos is a clear conflict of interest. The Nigerian media must do better.
On a final note, Dr. Abati’s lament about naming the Anambra airport after Chinua Achebe rings hollow. If he believes that a university would better honour Achebe’s legacy, he should kindly direct that advice to his “brother,” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Achebe’s global literary contributions merit a grand tribute, no doubt — but denigrating an existing honour bestowed by a state government only reveals bias.
In the end, Dr. Abati’s latest write-up has offered Nigerians an unfortunate case study in how not to practice journalism — especially when personal gain, patronage, or ego is at play.
About the Author:
Onyiorah Paschal Chiduluemije is a journalist and public affairs analyst based in Abatete, Anambra State. He can be reached at +234 812 703 3908.