The presidency on Tuesday described as mischievous and untrue a report that President Goodluck Jonathan requested to visit former military President, Ibrahim Babangida in Minna during the break of Ramadan fast to demonstrate “the spirit of comradeship.”
Special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati noted in a statement that, accordingly, Jonathan demanded "a full retraction of the totally false report which demeaned the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and an apology by the newspaper.
"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," Abati stated.
Condemning the decision of the editors of the paper (not LEADERSHIP) to publish what he termed arrant falsehood in spite of the presidency's vigorous rebuttal, the presidential spokesman said the report was a further manifestation of a continuing effort to sow the seeds of discord in the polity.
The statement made available to LEADERSHIP reads in part: "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.
Source: Leadership
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