The Presidency, Thursday, said that contrary to media reports and the accusation by the All Progressive Congress, the former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff was not part of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s delegation to Ndjamena, Chad.
Addressing state House Correspondents, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said the President was aware of the allegations levelled against the former Borno state governor and would not interfere with investigations by security agencies.
According to Dr Abati, Senator Modu Sheriff was neither on the President’s entourage to Chad nor did he participate in any of the engagements that the president had in Chad.
Abati said that Modu Sherrif only joined other Nigerians living in Chad to welcome President Jonathan at the airport and the picture taken of the President with the former Borno governor which is the subject of angst of Nigerians and the opposition part was at the airport where he had come with other Nigerians to welcome the president.
His statement:
“We have noted with surprise, the unnecessary hue and cry raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other bigoted critics of the Jonathan Administration over the claim that the President is “hobnobbing” with the former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who was recently accused by the Australian, Stephen Davis of being one of the chief sponsors of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
“The totally erroneous basis for that charge was the spurious claim that Senator Sheriff accompanied President Jonathan on his recent trip to Ndjamena as a member of his entourage.
“Although Senator Sheriff himself has already given the lie to that claim through his Media Adviser, the Presidency wishes to affirm, for the purpose of emphasis, that the former Borno State governor was not on President Jonathan’s delegation to Chad.
“In keeping with President Jonathan’s commitment to transparency and openness in the conduct of government business, names of the key members of his delegation were announced a day before his trip to Ndjamena.
“They included the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed and the Director-General of National Space Research and Development Agency, Prof. Seidu Mohammed.
“As can be easily verified from the complete list of members of the Presidential entourage to Chad which was also circulated on Sunday and never changed, Senator Sheriff’s name was not on it. The only other persons on the list were the President’s aides, security personnel and journalists.
“The APC and others who rushed to condemn President Jonathan for a non-existent indiscretion would have found, if they took the least trouble to double-check, that there was absolutely no factual basis for their accusation.
“Those who associate with Senator Sheriff know that he has longstanding interests in Chad and often spends a lot of his time there. He happened to be in Ndjamena at the time of President Jonathan’s visit and joined other Nigerian residents of the Chadian capital in coming to the airport to welcome their President.
“That was the full extent of his participation in the visit and it was also at Ndjamena Airport that the pictures which formed the basis of the bogus allegation of President Jonathan hobnobbing with an “accused sponsor of terrorism” were taken.
“The former Governor’s presence in Chad was certainly not at President Jonathan’s instance and he did not participate in any of the President’s discussions with President Idriss Deby or his other engagements in Ndjamena.
“President Jonathan is fully aware of the allegation made against Senator Sheriff by Stephen Davis. That allegation is already being investigated by the security agencies who will make their findings known to the public in due course.
“The President assures all Nigerians that he has not willfully taken any action that could prejudice the outcome of that ongoing inquiry.
“He seizes this opportunity to reassure the nation once again of his total commitment to doing all within his powers to bring all identified and verified sponsors of terrorism to justice, and ending the menace of violent extremism in the country”.
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shut up u idiot. Dnt i av tv? Jesus christ.wat is abati saying. So it has gotten to dis extent. Fg lie alot. Chei
ReplyDeleteProf,I used to be your supporter since your days at Guardian newspaper.....I respect you a lot sir..Alas! things changed immediately you took your current appointment..It's too big for me to say that an elderly man,a prof in particular is lying!!! Oga prof,we all saw it on tv,newspaper and other social media...Alimodu sherriff ,GEJ and the president of Chad with an aide behind the chad president....Where this country is heading to for God sake?????????
ReplyDeleteYes, the picture we all saw was photoshop. The three of you sat in a room smiling, Because We dont have audio, recording, you want to deceive us ehn?
ReplyDeleteChei ! there is God ooooo!! all the blood dat dey r sharing, but nobi only GEJ waka come d confrence nah.
ReplyDeleteU can't fool everyone every time, Prof,there is no iota of truth in your statement. Transparency as a bane of democracy has been trampled upon one time 2 many...
ReplyDeleteDr. Abati,
ReplyDeleteI am highly disappointed in you. Why are you lying? What do you really want in life? Remember we grew up together at Abeokuta and remember your great parent`s legacy. They had little and were blessed with contentment by the Almighty Allah. They were never being part of any controversial issues and they were upright. I know your position is tough but remember your upbringing. A good name is better than diamond and gold! Oruko rere osan ju wura ati fadaka lo. The whole thing is stinking!
Next news we are waiting next from him, is to tell us his brain and mouth was hijack by hackers not his email address again.Bunch of evils and wicked men in government house.
ReplyDeleteRubben Ikpati abi Akpoti, abeg we don tire for all dis your lie lie. Ali Modu Sheriff dey live for chad?. Everyday na so so new lie u just dey tell 9ja people. Ejo make u try dey talk small truth nah. Haba
ReplyDeleteI hope Dr. Abati of special Adviser to d president is different from d one we know @ d Patitos' gang ? Why is he telling lie ? Why can't the presidency call for the arrest of thosse indicted by Dr. Davies ? Afterall, the president was the one who call the negotiator to speak with Boko Haram
ReplyDeleteAbati haba Abati? even the pictures we all saw on two days ago. Et tu Reuben Abati. Were those pictures computer generated? what about the Stephen Davies revelations about Sherif and Ihejirika? how do we begin to reconcile your yester- years' radicalism and your Olympian high/long jump since you joined the government? it shall be well. time will tell. We will all harvest the fruits of history and posterity. JAY 2, Abuja.
ReplyDeleteEven President GEJ confirmed that he didn't travel with Sheriff so it is obvious that the useless Abati is lying as directed by his mumu boss.
ReplyDelete