31st October, 2010
The Presidency has described as “silly” and “outright lie” the lead report in today’s edition of Daily Trust that President Goodluck Jonathan is set to relocate some key government ministries to Lagos.
The newspaper had in the story said this is to decongest Abuja.
But in a swift reaction to the story contained in a statement signed by Ima Niboro, spokesperson for President Goodluck Jonathan, the presidency said “it is amazing that any one would want to decongest Abuja by relocating to Lagos, reputedly one of the continent’s most congested capitals”.
The Presidency said the story is an outright lie and fly in the face of present efforts of President Jonathan to develop Abuja city.
While accusing “Daily Trust” of taking newspapering to a new ridiculous extent today with a claim, the President accused of packaging the story “to whip up sectional sentiment and serve the ends of political paymasters”.
“The newspaper woefully failed to provide insight as to why such a decision might be taken, beyond hinting that it is a move to “decongest” Abuja.
“It is indeed inconceivable that a Nigerian newspaper can contemplate such an odd story.
“This is to urge the general public to ignore this silly tale.
“It is only packaged to whip up sectional sentiment and serve the ends of political paymasters.
“But this effort falls flat on its face in view of abundant evidence that the Jonathan administration is committedly expanding the nation’s capital, opening up new areas and linking up existing ones to make Abuja a true home for all Nigerians.
“This is another Daily Trust “exclusive” that is an outright lie; one more scoop that never was. Such tales are meant only for garbage dump”, Niboro said while advising the public to ignore the story.
