Presidency has denied the report that former President Ibrahim Babangida turned down a request made by President Goodluck Jonathan to break the fast with him in his Minna Hilltop home.
.The presidency described the report as completely untrue and demand a retraction of the report.
This was made known in a statement signed by the Presidents Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Reuben Abati
Part of the reports reads “former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), Monday turned down a request made by President Goodluck Jonathan to break the fast with him in his Minna Hilltop home, a reliable Presidency source told Peoples Daily.
“The president (Jonathan) sent word to IBB indicating he wanted to join the former leader for a breakfast with him in Minna”, the source disclosed.
According to the source, IBB turned down the request on the ground that such a visit could be misconstrued, especially when the host governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, is currently observing the lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia”
The Presidency Statement reads thus
The mischievous lead report in the Peoples Daily newspaper today that President Goodluck Jonathan sought to visit former President Ibrahim Babangida in Minna to show him “the spirit of comradeship” during Ramadan is completely untrue.
Although President Jonathan participates in the Ramadan fast every year in solidarity with Nigerians of the Islamic faith, he has never as Vice President or President of the country visited the residence of any individual to break his fast.
Rather, it has been the President’s custom to regularly invite Moslems from all strata of society to break their fast with him at the Presidential Villa during the month of Ramadan.
In keeping with that established practice, President Jonathan has been busy hosting Moslems, most evenings of the current Ramadan season.
As much as he respects and holds former President Babangida in high regard, President Jonathan has never indicated any interest in visiting him at Minna during the current Ramadan.
Therefore, there could not have been any “turning down” of a visit by President Jonathan by the former president.
We condemn the decision of the editors of the Peoples Daily to publish such arrant falsehood in spite of our vigorous rebuttal as a further manifestation of a continuing effort to sow the seeds of discord in the polity.
Although the newspaper cites a phantom “reliable presidency source” and “a source close to the former president” to buttress its fictitious report, the editors of Peoples Daily know fully well that they can never prove the veracity of the false claim that President Jonathan either offered to break fast with General Babangida in Minna or was turned down by the former president.
We therefore demand a full retraction of the totally false report which demeans the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an apology by the newspaper.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
We know that No report is ever true expect the one that originates from GEJ "lie men" like Abati, Doyin,Gulak and their cohort liars.
ReplyDeleteYes u appeared anonymous here but we know where you are coming from.close those your eyes very tight on the gud works this admin is doing and the good things of life will close their eyes on you because u r enemy of good things
DeleteYES! Good for GEJ. he has failed. let him break fast with DOKUNBO ASARI, or is DOKUNBO not a leader? or political figure? what else does GEJ wanted again?
ReplyDeleteGEJ failed in all ramifications, now fellow PDP even dislike him apart from Doyin Okunpe that is good in telling lies to cover him.
ReplyDeleteVery soon, we shall sweep them out, and hear no more lies from Doyin okupe.
Yes o! Anonymous 7:55, Yemolala and Anonymous 5:02, I hail you guys for seeing the truth and saying it. I wonder why some people are so biased, with sentiments beclouding their judgement. Even a mad man on the street knows that GEJ has failed yet people like Anonymous 7:16 continues to see good in his bad administration. I challenge him (Anonymous 7:16) to tell us 3 promises GEJ has been able to fulfil.
ReplyDeleteGEJ has lost credibility. He is a man drowning in a big ocean. He has failed in all sectors. What a shame!
ReplyDeleteIs IBB a good man that turning down GEJ will become an issue. The worst president Nigeria has ever had should be happy that an achiever like GEJ is visiting him. Turning down such a request simply means he is shy of GEJ's achievements. Simple!
ReplyDeleteanonymous 7.16 must be a joker. I hope ure not using your master or oga at the top surveillance software to monitor us.
ReplyDeleteIf Obama turned down Mr president, then I will comment not IBB
ReplyDeleteThis is an old gist but time has shown. ThabIBB did not turn down GEJ
ReplyDelete