The Presidency is shocked, but hardly surprised that the “People's Daily” newspaper, in an accustomed act of wanton irresponsibility, published today, Saturday, June 11, 2011, plainly false details of a fake dispatch purportedly written by an official of the Embassy of the United States in Nigeria.
We wholly condemn this cheap and totally unimaginative attempt to denigrate the character and integrity of the President on the front-pages of a newspaper published under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which expressly forbid false publications, libel, defamation and sedition.
Ignoring tell tale signs that even cub reporters elsewhere would have spotted right away, the "editors" of “People’s Daily” served up this despicable gargle in pursuit of their "campaign after election" against the Jonathan Presidency. This fictional account of a meeting that never was is extremely provocative and must be condemned by all.
For the benefit of the unwary, the Presidency states with all emphasis at its disposal that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever in the account published by “People’s Daily” of a purported meeting between President Jonathan, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria and the United States Under Secretary of State for African Affairs.
No such meeting took place on the date indicated in the fake dispatch and the dialogue quoted by “People’s Daily” is entirely the product of the imagination of the authors of the forged document.
It bears restating once again that President Jonathan is fully committed to the relentless prosecution of the war against corruption in Nigeria and will never, for personal or political reasons, interfere with the work of the EFCC, ICPC and other agencies involved in the national effort to stamp out corruption.
The Presidency therefore demands an apology from “People’s Daily” and a complete retraction of the offensive report with an admission that its contents have no factual basis whatsoever.
Reporting Without Fear or Favour
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