Jonathan: No Sacred Cow in Anti-graft War

Written by This Day Tuesday, 27 April 2010

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians that there will be no sacred cows in the ongoing anti-graft war, saying he would not interfer with the work of the anti-corruption agencies . He advised anyone who has a case to answer to do so without dragging his name into it.

Reacting to a newspaper report yesterday, which claimed the Acting President made telephone calls to Bank PHB’s MD, Cyril Chukwuma, to withdraw a civil suit against Zenon Oil’s Femi Otedola or face sack, the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Pulicity to the Acting President, Mr. Ima Niboro described the report as "false and outrightly seditious".

Niboro's described the report as "the handiwork of mischief makers hellbent on ridiculing the present administration".

" We are also not surprised that this silly tale was exclusive to (the newspaper in question), for reasons that must be pretty obvious to all Nigerians by now. We urge all well meaning citizens to ignore this foolish story, which is so outlandish that only a newspaper with an ax to grind could have published it. There is no need to point out that it would be ridiculous for the President of Nigeria, whether acting or substantive, to place a call to some bank CEO he doesn’t know from Adam to discuss issues between the bank and its client," he said.

According to him, if the report is part of the widely acknowledged psychological warfare being waged against the Acting President, "then this is a puerile effort indeed".

Niboro however said that the Presidency was not taking the allegation lightly, pointing out that "the relevant security services have been directed to investigate this libelous claim allegedly made by the lawyer to Bank PHB, one Ajibola Aribisala".

"They have also been instructed to have Mr. Chukwuma substantiate this claim, and state if he has ever spoken to the Acting President on this or any other issue, when the conversation(s) took place, and with what telephone numbers", he added.

He warned those he called " detractors and their co-travelers" that the Acting President is not bothered " by such calumnious campaigns", saying "the Nigerian people know better, and that’s all that is important to the Acting President".