Abati, who spoke to THE BRIIEF online, said that he took an oath of office to protect the President of Nigeria, saying: “no matter how inviting the subject is…I’m not going to comment on Government. You see, the kind of job that I did, I took an oath of office to defend the President and the government of Nigeria.
“I would not have defended one government and then I will start talking bad about another President. I cannot do that. In the oath, they won’t put the name of the President you are swearing to defend.”
Dr. Abati was asked to speak on what has come to be termed as “budget mafia” believed to have bedeviled the 2016 Appropriation Bill as was submitted by President Buhari.
abati responded by saying that he had no comment, he had no idea, and he had nothing to say.
“If you have been following my writings, you will notice that I haven’t been commenting directly on government issues, I’m not going to say anything.”
The former Presidential Special Adviser admitted that the issue is quite inviting but still managed to suppress the urge to comment.
“I’m no longer SA Media, but when you take an oath, its binding. My own understanding as they do it in America is that, that oath does not end; it does not expire.” [myad]
