Nigerian leader, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, this afternoon vehemently denied ever requesting to eat breakfast with ex-military president Ibrahim Babangida – not to talk of being turned down – and demanded the immediate retraction of the story published by the Abuja-based the Peoples Daily newspaper and largely reproduced by News Express.

A statement by Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Dr. Reuben Abati, entitled “President Jonathan Demands Retraction of Demeaning Report” says:

‘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.’

•Photo: President Jonathan.

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